New Jersey Voters Say No To Reelecting Menendez, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; If Menendez Goes, New Gov Should Name Replacement
| September 14, 2017 – New Jersey Voters Say No To Reelecting Menendez, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; If Menendez Goes, New Gov Should Name Replacement |  |
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Sample and Methodology detail
New Jersey voters say 50 – 20 percent, with 30 percent undecided, that U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez does not deserve reelection next year, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Sen. Menendez gets a negative 31 – 49 percent job approval rating, his lowest rating since a split 30 – 31 percent rating in a February 20, 2008, survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
Democrats approve by an anemic 45 – 35 percent and voters 18 to 34 years old are divided 37 – 33 percent. Every other party, gender, education, age or racial group disapproves.
New Jersey voters disapprove 79 – 16 percent of the job Gov. Christopher Christie is doing as he clings to the title as the governor with the lowest approval rating in any state surveyed by Quinnipiac University in more than 20 years.
Even Republicans disapprove 61 – 35 percent.
Garden State voters disapprove 61 – 32 percent of the job President Donald Trump is doing, compared to a 66 – 28 percent disapproval June 14.
“This survey was conducted as federal prosecutors opened their case against U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez – perhaps poisoning the landscape. If Sen. Menendez is convicted, he obviously won’t be in the running next year. If he is acquitted, who knows,” said Maurice Carroll, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
“President Donald Trump’s home away from home is his New Jersey golf course. But neighborhood doesn’t insure political support. Far from it.”
New Jersey voters approve 55 – 29 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is doing, compared to his all-time high 58 – 28 percent approval rating June 14.
Only 3 percent of voters say Gov. Christie should appoint himself as U.S. Senator if Sen. Robert Menendez is forced to leave the Senate. Another 24 percent say Christie should appoint someone else and 68 percent say Christie should wait for the new governor to appoint a Senator to replace Menendez. Minimum Wage, Marijuana, Gun Control
New Jersey voters support 74 – 24 percent, including a narrow 50 – 46 percent among Republicans, increasing the $8.44 per hour minimum wage in the state. Voter options for the minimum wage are:
- 9 percent say there should be no increase;
- 49 percent say there should be an increase to something less than $15 per hour;
- 32 percent say $15 per hour should be the new minimum wage;
- 8 percent say the minimum wage should be higher than $15 per hour.
Garden State voters support 59 – 38 percent allowing adults to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Every listed group supports legalized marijuana, except Republicans, who are opposed 53 – 43 percent, and voters over 65 years old, who are divided, with 47 percent in favor and 50 percent opposed.
But 55 percent of voters say they would “definitely not try” marijuana if it were legal. Nine percent say they would “definitely try” it and 12 percent say they would “probably try it.”
Marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol, 12 percent of voters say, while 38 percent say it is less dangerous and 46 percent say marijuana and alcohol are equally as dangerous.
New Jersey voters support 96 – 3 percent requiring background checks for all gun buyers. Support is 94 percent or higher among every group.
If more people carried guns, New Jersey would be less safe, 63 percent of voters say, while 28 percent say it would be safer.
From September 7 – 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,121 New Jersey registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 4 percentage points, including the design effect. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys nationwide, and in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa and Colorado as a public service and for research.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Approve 32% 72% 4% 34% 39% 27% 34% 49%
Disapprove 61 22 91 59 53 68 62 43
DK/NA 7 6 5 6 9 6 3 9
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Approve 22% 30% 36% 38% 48% 34% 41% 16%
Disapprove 72 66 59 55 47 60 54 77
DK/NA 6 5 5 7 5 6 6 7
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Chris Christie is handling his job as Governor?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Approve 16% 35% 5% 17% 19% 13% 16% 20%
Disapprove 79 61 92 78 76 81 81 73
DK/NA 5 4 2 5 5 6 3 7
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Approve 14% 13% 17% 19% 20% 15% 18% 13%
Disapprove 84 84 78 71 75 79 77 82
DK/NA 2 3 5 9 4 6 5 5
6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Approve 24% 21% 28% 23% 23% 25% 24% 17%
Disapprove 56 60 52 57 60 52 58 58
DK/NA 20 19 20 19 17 23 17 25
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Approve 31% 25% 21% 23% 20% 22% 21% 30%
Disapprove 46 60 60 57 63 54 58 52
DK/NA 24 15 19 20 17 24 21 18
7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Cory Booker is handling his job as United States Senator?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Approve 55% 28% 81% 52% 49% 61% 57% 43%
Disapprove 29 55 8 31 37 22 33 41
DK/NA 16 17 11 17 14 17 10 16
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Approve 56% 57% 55% 55% 45% 56% 51% 66%
Disapprove 24 26 33 32 44 29 36 15
DK/NA 21 17 11 13 11 15 13 19
8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Approve 31% 20% 45% 27% 25% 36% 31% 26%
Disapprove 49 65 35 53 55 45 56 53
DK/NA 20 15 20 21 20 20 13 21
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Approve 37% 30% 29% 31% 21% 34% 28% 36%
Disapprove 33 57 54 51 63 47 55 40
DK/NA 31 12 17 18 16 19 17 24
9. Do you feel that Robert Menendez deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Yes/Deserves 20% 12% 29% 19% 19% 21% 19% 18%
No/Does not 50 61 41 50 54 46 57 54
DK/NA 30 27 30 31 27 33 24 28
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Yes/Deserves 25% 17% 21% 21% 17% 18% 18% 26%
No/Does not 36 54 55 50 63 49 55 40
DK/NA 39 28 25 28 20 33 27 34
10. If Senator Menendez is forced to leave the U.S. Senate, do you think Governor Christie should appoint himself as Senator, appoint someone else as Senator, or do you think Governor Christie should wait for the new governor to appoint someone as Senator?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Appoint himself 3% 5% - 4% 2% 4% 3% 5%
Appoint someone else 24 38 14 25 26 22 26 25
Wait for new Gov 68 53 82 68 67 70 66 66
DK/NA 5 4 3 4 5 4 5 4
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Appoint himself 5% 1% 4% 2% 3% 5% 4% 1%
Appoint someone else 17 25 26 25 30 22 25 20
Wait for new Gov 76 72 65 65 64 69 66 75
DK/NA 2 2 5 8 4 4 4 4
11. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New Jersey today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Very satisfied 2% 3% 1% 3% 3% 2% 1% 3%
Smwht satisfied 32 39 31 29 31 33 31 32
Smwht dissatisfied 38 39 39 39 38 38 41 41
Very dissatisfied 27 20 29 28 28 26 27 24
DK/NA 1 - - 1 1 1 - 1
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Very satisfied 6% 1% 1% 2% 1% 3% 2% 3%
Smwht satisfied 43 28 27 33 32 31 32 35
Smwht dissatisfied 35 45 32 41 42 39 40 32
Very dissatisfied 15 26 38 23 24 26 25 29
DK/NA 1 - 1 2 - 1 1 1
15. Would you support or oppose raising the minimum wage in New Jersey, which is now $8.44 an hour?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Support 74% 50% 92% 73% 69% 78% 71% 72%
Oppose 24 46 7 23 27 21 28 25
DK/NA 3 4 - 4 4 1 1 3
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Support 81% 71% 73% 76% 69% 74% 72% 81%
Oppose 18 26 26 22 28 24 26 18
DK/NA 1 3 1 3 2 2 2 1
16. Which comes closest to your point of view regarding raising the state’s minimum wage over the next several years: there should be no increase in the minimum wage, there should be an increase in the minimum wage but not as high as $15.00 an hour, there should be an increase in the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour, or there should be an increase in the minimum wage higher than $15.00 an hour?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
No increase 9% 18% 2% 10% 12% 6% 12% 8%
Increase < $15.00 49 70 37 48 51 48 54 63
Increase to $15.00 32 9 46 35 29 34 28 26
Increase > $15.00 8 3 14 6 5 11 6 2
DK/NA 1 - 1 2 2 1 - -
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
No increase 9% 10% 8% 9% 13% 7% 10% 6%
Increase < $15.00 50 51 51 47 62 55 58 35
Increase to $15.00 33 32 31 32 21 32 27 41
Increase > $15.00 7 7 10 9 3 5 4 17
DK/NA 1 1 - 2 - 1 1 2
17. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose reducing pension benefits for new state workers?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Support 38% 55% 28% 40% 41% 35% 46% 36%
Oppose 54 36 66 53 52 56 47 51
DK/NA 8 9 6 7 7 9 7 13
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Support 34% 40% 44% 35% 46% 38% 42% 33%
Oppose 57 54 51 52 47 51 49 62
DK/NA 9 7 5 13 7 12 10 5
18. Do you believe the state of New Jersey has an obligation to fix public employee pensions, even if it means raising taxes, or don’t you think so?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Yes/Obligation 49% 34% 60% 51% 52% 48% 58% 42%
No 44 60 35 41 43 45 36 50
DK/NA 7 5 5 8 6 7 6 8
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Yes/Obligation 57% 54% 50% 41% 51% 49% 50% 50%
No 41 40 46 47 43 43 43 45
DK/NA 3 6 5 12 5 8 7 5
19. Would you support or oppose raising taxes on people who earn more than one million dollars to help fund public employee pensions?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Support 72% 48% 88% 71% 68% 75% 67% 67%
Oppose 24 49 8 26 28 21 30 30
DK/NA 4 4 3 3 3 5 3 3
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Support 84% 75% 63% 69% 65% 68% 67% 82%
Oppose 15 21 33 25 33 27 30 14
DK/NA 1 3 4 6 2 4 3 4
20. Would you support or oppose raising taxes across the board to help fund public employee pensions?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Support 30% 24% 36% 28% 31% 30% 30% 31%
Oppose 65 72 58 67 65 64 66 63
DK/NA 5 4 6 4 4 6 4 6
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Support 31% 31% 32% 30% 29% 31% 30% 31%
Oppose 67 65 65 60 68 62 65 64
DK/NA 2 5 3 10 3 7 5 5
21. Do you support or oppose allowing adults in New Jersey to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Support 59% 43% 70% 60% 62% 56% 58% 56%
Oppose 38 53 26 36 34 41 38 39
DK/NA 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 5
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Support 69% 65% 60% 47% 64% 51% 57% 62%
Oppose 27 32 35 50 31 45 38 35
DK/NA 4 3 4 3 5 4 4 3
22. If marijuana were legalized for recreational use in New Jersey would you definitely try it, probably try it, probably not try it, or definitely not try it?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Definitely try 9% 7% 8% 10% 13% 5% 9% 10%
Probably try 12 8 13 13 15 8 11 14
Probably not try 21 19 23 20 19 22 21 21
Definitely not try 55 65 51 53 50 60 58 54
DK/NA 3 - 4 5 2 4 2 2
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Definitely try 14% 12% 6% 8% 14% 5% 9% 10%
Probably try 21 9 13 8 15 9 12 12
Probably not try 36 15 20 14 19 23 21 18
Definitely not try 28 58 59 69 50 62 56 55
DK/NA - 6 4 1 1 2 2 5
23. Do you think marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol, less dangerous than alcohol, or about equally as dangerous as alcohol?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
More 12% 16% 10% 12% 11% 13% 12% 13%
Less 38 28 47 35 42 34 32 36
Equally 46 55 40 50 45 48 53 48
NEITHER ARE(VOL) - - - - - - - -
DK/NA 4 2 2 4 3 5 2 3
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
More 8% 9% 13% 16% 11% 14% 13% 10%
Less 62 39 36 23 38 30 34 45
Equally 29 48 50 54 49 53 51 39
NEITHER ARE(VOL) - - - - - - - -
DK/NA 1 4 1 8 1 3 2 6
24. Do you support or oppose stricter gun laws in New Jersey?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Support 57% 32% 78% 56% 45% 67% 62% 45%
Oppose 38 64 18 40 50 28 35 48
DK/NA 5 3 4 5 5 4 3 7
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Support 58% 57% 59% 59% 41% 66% 54% 63%
Oppose 38 40 39 34 55 29 41 33
DK/NA 4 3 2 7 4 5 5 4
Gun
HsHld
Support 25%
Oppose 73
DK/NA 2
25. Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for all gun buyers?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Support 96% 97% 96% 97% 95% 97% 97% 96%
Oppose 3 2 4 2 4 2 3 3
DK/NA 1 - - 1 1 1 - 1
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Support 98% 96% 98% 95% 94% 99% 97% 96%
Oppose 2 3 2 4 5 1 3 3
DK/NA - - - 2 1 - 1 1
Gun
HsHld
Support 94%
Oppose 5
DK/NA 1
26. Do you think it is too easy to buy a gun in New Jersey today, too difficult to buy a gun in New Jersey today, or about right?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Too easy 31% 16% 43% 28% 20% 40% 36% 25%
Too difficult 16 28 5 16 27 5 14 18
About right 33 37 27 37 38 28 33 38
DK/NA 21 19 25 19 15 26 18 19
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Too easy 25% 30% 34% 40% 21% 40% 31% 32%
Too difficult 13 12 20 13 26 6 16 14
About right 48 39 26 26 43 28 35 29
DK/NA 15 19 20 21 11 25 18 25
Gun
HsHld
Too easy 14%
Too difficult 34
About right 46
DK/NA 6
27. Do you think any new gun laws will interfere with the right to own guns, or do you think it’s possible to make new gun laws without interfering with gun rights?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Will interfere 24% 42% 12% 23% 29% 19% 25% 28%
Won't interfere 65 50 79 63 62 67 69 57
NO RIGHT TO OWN(VOL) 1 - 1 1 1 - 1 -
DK/NA 11 9 8 12 8 14 6 16
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Will interfere 20% 20% 27% 24% 32% 20% 26% 20%
Won't interfere 73 73 64 55 61 65 63 69
NO RIGHT TO OWN(VOL) - - - 2 1 - - 1
DK/NA 7 7 8 19 6 15 11 10
Gun
HsHld
Will interfere 43%
Won't interfere 48
NO RIGHT TO OWN(VOL) -
DK/NA 9
28. If more people carried guns, do you think New Jersey would be safer or less safe?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Safer 28% 52% 11% 27% 39% 19% 26% 37%
Less safe 63 35 84 63 51 74 66 50
DK/NA 9 13 4 9 10 8 8 13
AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE.....
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht
Safer 31% 29% 29% 23% 41% 22% 31% 23%
Less safe 64 59 63 69 48 69 59 73
DK/NA 5 11 8 8 11 9 10 4
Gun
HsHld
Safer 59%
Less safe 28
DK/NA 13
