New Jersey Governor's Race Poll: Sherrill Leads Ciattarelli by Six Points in Crucial Election
A recent poll indicates that Democrat Mikie Sherrill is leading by six points over Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the New Jersey governor's race. The upcoming November election is seen as a crucial indicator for the 2026 midterm elections, with Sherrill currently holding 48% support compared to Ciattarelli's 42% support, according to a StimSight Research Poll for InsiderNJ.
The survey conducted from July 18-24 revealed that only 32% of respondents were definite about voting for Sherrill, while 31% were definite about voting for Ciattarelli, leaving room for potential shifts in support. Additionally, 1% of probable voters expressed their intention to vote for a third party, and 9% of respondents remained undecided.
Affordability and taxes emerged as the top concerns for New Jersey voters in this election, with 53% prioritizing affordability and 43% focusing on taxes. When asked which candidate would best address the issue of affordability, 36% favored Sherrill, while 34% leaned towards Ciattarelli. On the other hand, Ciattarelli was overwhelmingly perceived as the candidate best suited to lower taxes, with 50% of respondents supporting him compared to 15% for Sherrill.
The poll also highlighted that 54% of respondents believed Sherrill could provide economic opportunities for New Jersey families, while 49% expressed the same confidence in Ciattarelli. Protecting Social Security and Medicare was a significant concern for 30% of New Jersey voters, with 36% supporting Trump's "big, beautiful bill" and 51% believing it would harm New Jersey families. "Standing up to Trump" was considered the top issue by 27% of respondents.
Both Trump and incumbent Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy received similar job approval ratings from Garden State voters, with 44% and 45% respectively. When attributing blame for the state's challenges, 37% pointed to state leadership in Trenton, 27% blamed the federal government in Washington, and 34% held both accountable.
The poll results indicated that 54% of respondents strongly agreed and 12% somewhat agreed that the Republican Party appears overly focused on catering to Trump. The poll was commissioned by InsiderNJ, with no clear indication of the publisher.
Sherrill, a current U.S. congresswoman representing New Jersey's 11th district, emerged as the Democratic nominee by leveraging criticism of Trump and Elon Musk. Ciattarelli, a former state lawmaker and businessman endorsed by Trump, secured the Republican nomination after defeating four rivals.