Madison, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey maintains a stable approval rating amidst the growing political landscape shaped by First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Senate campaign, as revealed by the latest Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll. Despite Governor Murphy’s steady approval rating at 46 percent, his disapproval rates are notably affected among independents and Republicans due to the First Lady’s bid for the U.S. Senate seat held by Bob Menendez.
Dan Cassino, a professor of Government and Politics at FDU and the director of the poll, emphasized the importance of the governor’s approval ratings. High approval ratings afford the governor more leverage in Trenton, while lower ratings could diminish his influence among legislators. The poll incorporated an experiment to gauge the impact of the First Lady’s Senate race on the governor’s approval ratings. Results showed that discussions about the Senate race prior to evaluating Governor Murphy’s performance significantly increase his disapproval rates, especially among independents and Republicans.
The data indicates a marginal increase in approval from Democrats after introducing the Senate race, from 76 to 81 percent. However, a notable decrease in approval was observed among independents (from 42 to 32 percent) and Republicans, alongside a significant rise in disapproval rates among these groups.
Cassino suggests that associating Governor Murphy with national politics rather than local issues may alienate independents and Republicans. Additionally, there appears to be a negative sentiment towards the First Lady’s candidacy, potentially impacting the governor’s standing.
In the Democratic primary race, the poll shows First Lady Tammy Murphy trailing behind Congressman Andy Kim by 12 points, with Kim leading at 32 percent compared to Murphy’s 20 percent. With 31 percent of likely Democratic primary voters still undecided, the race remains open. Senator Menendez garners 9 percent support, and labor activist Patricia Campos-Medina receives 8 percent of the vote among Democratic primary voters.