Forty-one percent say they “strongly” support the Inflation Reduction Act being signed into law and 24 percent “somewhat” support it. Meanwhile, 8 percent, “somewhat” oppose it and 22 percent “strongly” oppose it.

Still, New Jerseyans say they don’t believe the Inflation Reduction Act will help them and their family all that much when it comes to personal finances and spending. About 10 percent feel it will help them “a lot,” 24 percent said “some,” 22 percent “a little” and 38 percent “not at all.”

“There is a bit of a disconnect between support for the Inflation Reduction Act and how much New Jerseyans actually think they will be impacted, with even the law’s strongest supporters divided on how much it will help them personally,” said Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling (ECPIP) at Rutgers University–New Brunswick. “The fact that voters do not perceive a significant personal benefit from major legislation by the Biden administration during difficult economic times is a troubling sign for Democratic candidates across the country with a consequential election just weeks away.”

Views are starkly divided by party lines. Most Democrats support the Inflation Reduction Act (69 percent strongly support, 21 percent somewhat support), while most Republicans oppose it (16 percent somewhat oppose, 65 percent strongly oppose). Independents are mostly supportive, though not to the same degree as Democrats; 30 percent of independents “strongly” support the Inflation Reduction Act and 32 percent somewhat support it. Majorities of other key demographics show some level of support for the legislation as well.

Democrats are the most optimistic of any demographic when it comes to how much they believe the legislation will help them personally. Slightly more than half say they believe it will help them and their family either “a lot” (17 percent) or “some” (37 percent). Republicans feel just the opposite, with 81 percent saying the new legislation won’t help them “at all.” Slightly more than six in 10 independents say they believe the law won’t help their family “at all” (36 percent) or will only help “a little” (27 percent).

New Jerseyans report cutting back on other spending in order to afford necessities. Twenty-eight percent say they have cut back on spending “a lot,” 33 percent say “some,” 19 percent say “a little,” and 19 percent say “not at all.” Partisan divisions emerge, even when it comes to perceived spending habits; slightly less than half of Democrats say they have cut back on at least “some” spending, compared to two-thirds of independents and three-quarters of Republicans.

Non-white residents are more likely than non-Hispanic white residents by double digits to say they have cut back “a lot.” Additionally, residents in households making less than $100,000 annually and those with some college or less are similarly more likely than their counterparts to say they have cut back on spending to afford necessities.

“Reports of cutting back on spending come as no surprise, given that New Jerseyans cite economic issues as the top reason why they will vote in the upcoming midterm election,” said Jessica Roman, a research associate at ECPIP. “Voters are looking at their wallets and hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel amidst the soaring cost of living.”

Results are from a statewide poll of 1,006 adults contacted by live interviewers on landlines and cell phones from Aug. 30 to Sept. 8. The full sample has a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points.

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Broadcast interviews: Rutgers University–New Brunswick has broadcast-quality TV and radio studios available for remote live or taped interviews with Rutgers experts. For more information, contact Megan Schumann at megan.schumann@rutgers.edu.

ABOUT THE EAGLETON CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEREST POLLING (ECPIP)
Rutgers University–New Brunswick is where Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, began more than 250 years ago. Ranked among the world’s top 60 universities, Rutgers’s flagship university is a leading public research institution and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. It is home to internationally acclaimed faculty and has 12 degree-granting schools and a Division I Athletics program. It is the Big Ten Conference’s most diverse university. Through its community of teachers, scholars, artists, scientists, and healers, Rutgers is equipped as never before to transform lives.

ABOUT THE EAGLETON INSTITUTE OF POLITICS
The Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University—New Brunswick studies how American politics and government work and change, analyzes how the democracy might improve, and promotes political participation and civic engagement. The Institute explores state and national politics through research, education, and public service, linking the study of politics with its day-to-day practice.

ABOUT RUTGERS—NEW BRUNSWICK
Rutgers University–New Brunswick is where Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, began more than 250 years ago. Ranked among the world’s top 60 universities, Rutgers’s flagship is a leading public research institution and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. It has an internationally acclaimed faculty, 12 degree-granting schools and the Big Ten Conference’s most diverse student body.