A new Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey of New Jersey voters finds 43% of voters support Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciatarelli, respectively; 11% of voters are undecided.

“The first Emerson College general election survey of New Jersey’s 2025 election for Governor reveals a tightly contested race in the Garden State,” Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said. “Young voters, under 40, break for Sherrill by large margins, 58% to 24%. The race tightens to seven points among voters in their 40s, with Sherrill leading 47% to 40%, then Ciattarelli flips the script among voters over 50, leading Sherrill 52% to 36% among this group.”

“A stark gender divide also emerges among Garden State voters: women break for Sherrill by ten points, 46% to 36%, while men break for Ciattarelli by 12 points, 51% to 39%. Notably, women are over twice as likely to be undecided at 15% compared to 6% of men,” Kimball added.

Governor Phil Murphy holds a 35% job approval rating, and 44% disapprove of the job he is doing; 21% are neutral. Since May, the Governor’s approval rating has decreased five points, from 40% to 35%. President Donald Trump holds a 41% job approval and 51% disapproval rating; 9% are neutral.

Voters were asked if they would rather the next governor work with the Trump administration or stand up to the Trump administration. Fifty-one percent prefer they stand up to the administration, while 49% prefer they work with the administration. Since May, sentiment has flipped: those wanting the next Governor to stand up to Trump increased four points from 47% to 51%, and those who prefer the Governor to work with Trump decreased from 53% to 49%.

Economic concerns continue to top New Jersey voters’ concerns: 51% think the economy is the top issue facing the state, followed by threats to democracy (13%), housing affordability (11%), healthcare (6%), immigration policy (5%), and crime (5%).

Regarding the property tax rate in New Jersey, 21% think the Governor is responsible for the rate, 15% think the state legislature is responsible for the rate, 10% town governments, 6% local school districts, and 46% think all of these groups are responsible.

When it comes to utility costs, 30% think utility companies are responsible for the costs in New Jersey, 22% think the governor is responsible, 7% the federal government, and 4% the grid operator; 35% think all of these are responsible.

“New Jersey Democrats blame utility companies for the cost of utilities at 36%, whereas Republicans blame Governor Murphy at 36% -- independents are split between the governor (27%) and utility companies (23%),” Kimball added.

Forty-six percent of voters support their school district merging with another to reduce costs, while 22% oppose, and 32% are neutral or have no opinion.

“Opposition is significantly higher among those who are parents to a child between 3 and 18 years old at 37%, compared to 17% of non-parents of this age group,” Kimball noted.