“While Governor Murphy’s ratings have eased from their early pandemic highs, he nevertheless has the highest job approval rating of any Democratic governor in the poll’s 50-year history,” said Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling (ECPIP) at Rutgers University–New Brunswick.

On his final first term report card, Murphy remains a ‘C’ student, on average. When it comes to grading him overall, 13 percent of New Jerseyans give him an ‘A,’ 30 percent a ‘B,’ 18 percent a ‘C,’ 13 percent a ‘D,’ and 22 percent an ‘F.’ The governor’s overall grade has moved only slightly since May.

As for individual issues areas, Murphy, far and away, continues to get his highest marks on his handling of the pandemic – albeit a ‘C+’ average: 30 percent of New Jerseyans give him an ‘A,’ 19 percent a ‘B,’ 13 percent a ‘C,’ 10 percent a ‘D,’ and 22 percent an ‘F.’ After an initial drop-off between October 2020 and May 2021, his pandemic grade has changed little from last spring.

Murphy gets his next highest grades on education and schools (16 percent ‘A,’ 24 percent ‘B’), followed by transportation and infrastructure (12 percent ‘A,’ 24 percent ‘B’), the economy and jobs (12 percent ‘A,’ 24 percent ‘B’), and climate change (14 percent ‘A,’ 21 percent ‘B’). His average grade in each of these areas is a ‘C,’ with about one-in-five residents giving him failing marks.

Murphy gets lower grades on crime and drugs (10 percent ‘A,’ 21 percent ‘B’) and the state budget (9 percent ‘A,’ 22 percent ‘B’); a quarter of residents fail him in each of these areas, making him a ‘C-‘ student on these issues, on average.

The Governor’s lowest marks come from his handling of taxes, for which residents, on average, give him a ‘D+’: just 6 percent give him an ‘A,’ 16 percent a ‘B,’ 19 percent a ‘C,’ 13 percent a ‘D,’ and 38 percent an ‘F.’

Results are from a statewide poll of 1,008 adults contacted by live interviewers on landlines and cell phones from Oct. 21–27. The full sample has a margin of error of +/- 3.9 percentage points.

The full press release is available here.

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 John Cramer at john.cramer@rutgers.edu.

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 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 CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEREST POLLING (ECPIP)
Home of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll, ECPIP was established in 1971 and is the oldest and one of the most respected university-based state survey research centers in the United States. Now in its 50th year and with the publication of over 200 polls, ECPIP’s mission is to provide scientifically sound, non-partisan information about public opinion. To read more about ECPIP and view all of our press releases, published research, and data archive, please visit our website: eagletonpoll.rutgers.edu. You can also visit our Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT THE EAGLETON INSTITUTE OF POLITICS
The Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. The Eagleton Institute 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. To learn more about Eagleton programs and expertise, visit eagleton.rutgers.edu.