Monmouth Poll: New Jersey has mixed feelings for Phil Murphy

Governor Phil Murphy’s net approval rating has declined 17% after his first year in office and he is less popular than Governors Christie and Corzine were at this stage of their terms, according to a new Monmouth University Poll released this morning.

“Murphy started his term with greater public goodwill than his recent predecessors, but he has now fallen behind them.  The most troubling result may be the large number of his fellow Democrats who continue to take a wait-and-see attitude.  It seems he has yet to score a defining win with his base despite spending a significant amount of energy pushing a progressive agenda,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.

43% of NJ adults approve of Murphy’s performance, down from 44% in April of 2018.  40% disapprove compared to only 28% who disapproved last April. 17% have no opinion of the governor, down from 28%.

Independents have soured on the governor.  39% approve and 43% disapprove rating with this group compared to a net positive 41% approve and 33% disapprove rating in April 2018.

As expected, Republicans disapprove of Murphy 11% approve and 85% disapprove now, compared with 17% – 59% last year.

Only 66% of Democrats approve of Murphy, while only 9% disapprove.  25% have no opinion, compared to 28% who said they had no opinion last year.

Two-in-three New Jerseyans (66%) approve of the move which will increase the minimum wage for most workers to $15 an hour by 2024.  Just 29% oppose it.