TRENTON, NJ – A recent Fairleigh Dickinson University poll shows that New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s job approval ratings have remained fairly stable over the past year, but most New Jerseyans don’t think he’s doing a great job.
According to the latest data, 44% of respondents approve of Murphy’s performance as governor, while 37% disapprove. Another 19% of respondents said they were not sure or refused to answer. These numbers reveal minor fluctuations in public opinion when compared to earlier polls taken in February, May, and October of this year and last year.
A closer look at the data shows a clear partisan divide. Among Democrats, Murphy enjoys a robust 73% approval rating, whereas only 14% of Republicans give him a favorable assessment. Independents are more evenly split, with 36% approving and 44% disapproving of the governor’s job performance. The disapproval rates among Republicans and Independents have contributed to Murphy’s overall approval rate of less than 50%.
Murphy’s ratings have shown some variability over the past year, but they have largely stayed within the same range. In February, the governor had an approval rating of 48%, which slightly declined to 44% in both May and October. During the same period, his disapproval rating has ranged from 36% to 42%.
The consistent approval ratings across multiple months suggest that the governor’s performance is not eliciting strong changes in public opinion. This steadiness comes even as political debates, such as those over parental control in schools, have the potential to influence state elections and voter sentiments.