NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — New Jersey’s U.S. senators are facing lukewarm approval from voters, with a significant number of residents either holding unfavorable views or expressing no opinion at all, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Wednesday.
Sen. Cory Booker, who has served in the Senate since 2013, holds a 40% favorability rating among New Jersey residents, while 35% view him unfavorably. Nearly one in five (19%) say they have no opinion of him, and 7% say they don’t know who he is. His job approval mirrors these numbers, with 40% approving and 34% disapproving of his performance; 26% are unsure.
Sen. Andy Kim, who was elected to the Senate in 2024, is less familiar to the public. While 34% of respondents view him favorably and 19% unfavorably, 29% say they have no opinion, and 18% don’t recognize his name. Kim’s job approval stands at 37%, with 17% disapproval and a striking 47% unsure.
Gov. Phil Murphy, meanwhile, remains a divisive figure. His favorability rating stands at 43% favorable to 40% unfavorable, with a slightly higher job approval rating of 47% compared to 38% disapproval. Both numbers have declined since fall 2024.
The data suggest a growing ambivalence toward the state’s top elected officials, with name recognition emerging as a particular challenge for Sen. Kim.
