Democrat Mikie Sherrill leads Republican Jack Ciattarelli by 8 percentage points as New Jersey’s race for governor enters its final stretch, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.
The survey found Sherrill was favored by 49% of likely voters, while Ciattarelli was favored by 41%. Libertarian Party candidate Vic Kaplan and Socialist Workers Party candidate Joanne Kuniansky each received 1%.
But many voters said they were still unsure of the candidates. The poll found 4% were undecided and 2% did not provide a response.
Taxes and ethics in government topped the list of the most important issues for voters.
Democrats and Republicans largely supported their party’s nominees, but independents were split, with 45% backing Sherrill and 41% supporting Ciattarelli, according to the poll.
The poll also asked participants which candidate cared about the needs and problems of people like them, had good leadership skills and was honest. Sherrill led in all three categories.
“With just under seven weeks to go, the race for the Trenton statehouse leans Sherrill’s way as Ciattarelli lags on three character issues: honesty, empathy and leadership,” Quinnipiac polling analyst Tim Malloy said.
Among men, 48% supported Ciattarelli. Sherrill drew support from 55% of women polled.
The poll aligns with other recent surveys, though Ciattarelli has criticized the methodology of the polls during the gubernatorial campaign.
“We think it’s a flawed methodology,” Ciattarelli said earlier in September during an event in Garfield, where he picked up an endorsement from a Democratic mayor who switched to the Republican Party.
“Our internal polling has it as a dead heat,” Ciattarelli said. “I feel we’re right where we need to be.”
About 30% of those polled in the new survey listed taxes as the most important issue, while 14% cited ethics in government. No other issue reached double digits.
On property taxes, voters trusted Ciattarelli more. He polled with 46% of voters to Sherrill’s 40%.
Both candidates were ranked closely on their handling of electricity costs, a key issue in New Jersey as utility rates rise, with 42% favoring Sherrill and 40% favoring Ciattarelli.
Among Ciattarelli supporters, 88% say they are enthusiastic about him. Among Sherrill bakers, 85% say the same of her.
Voters were split on their satisfaction with the state of New Jersey. They were also divided on how the next governor should interact with President Donald Trump: 50% said they want an aggressive stance toward Trump, while 47% preferred a cooperative approach.
Trump had a 41% job approval from the state’s voters, while 55% disapprove.
Current Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat set to leave office in January, had a 48% job approval rating and 44% disapproval mark.
The poll surveyed 1,238 voters from Sept. 11 to Sept. 15 and has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.9%.
Jelani Gibson
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