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 Quinnipiac University Polling Logo

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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
 
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