NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — A vast majority of New Jersey residents remain dissatisfied with how the state government is handling key issues such as taxes, cost of living, and transportation, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Thursday.
Democrats, who have controlled all three branches of government in the state for eight years are fully to blame. As the 2025 gubernatorial election looms, the party is trying to shift that blame to Republicans.
Eighty-five percent of residents said they are dissatisfied with how the state is managing affordability, including 52% who said they are “very dissatisfied.” On taxes, 80% expressed dissatisfaction, with more than half (53%) saying they are “very dissatisfied.”
“There isn’t a single issue where a significant majority is satisfied,” said Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling. “New Jerseyans are in a state of malaise when it comes to how Trenton is handling a number of key statewide issues.”
While views improved slightly on areas such as transportation, crime, and health care, dissatisfaction still outweighs satisfaction. On transportation and infrastructure, 54% said they were dissatisfied, while 39% said they were satisfied. Opinions on crime were more evenly split, with 51% satisfied and 45% dissatisfied.
The poll also found that residents were divided on education, health care, and the economy. For public schools, 47% said they were satisfied, while 41% were not. Health care drew similar results, with 49% satisfied and 45% dissatisfied. The state’s economic handling saw a near even split: 44% satisfied versus 48% dissatisfied.
The survey also recorded mixed opinions on top political figures. Gov. Phil Murphy received a 47% job approval rating, with 38% disapproving. His favorability rating stood at 43%, with 40% holding an unfavorable opinion. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker’s ratings were also close, with 40% favorable and 35% unfavorable. Junior Sen. Andy Kim had 34% favorability and 19% unfavorable, though many respondents were unfamiliar with him.
President Donald Trump received a 30% favorability rating among New Jersey adults, while 59% viewed him unfavorably. His job approval stood at 31%, with 60% disapproving.
The poll surveyed 621 New Jersey adults between June 13 and June 16 and has a margin of error of ±5.4 percentage points.
