Gov. Mikie Sherrill is entering her first state budget negotiations with a formidable wave of public support. According to the latest Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Poll Sherrill’s approval rating stands at 58% a commanding lead over the mid-40s approval ratings seen by her predecessor, Phil Murphy, during much of his final term.
The data suggests that Sherrill is currently enjoying a rare “benefit of the doubt” from a broad cross-section of the electorate, including Independents and some Republicans. However, the poll also reveals a complex directive from Garden State voters regarding her relationship with the Trump administration.
Sherrill’s numbers are anchored by near-universal approval from her base, but she is also making inroads with traditional opposition groups.
Sherrill approval ratings by group:
- Democrats: 88%
- Progressives: 88%
- Liberals: 85%
- Republicans: 22%
- Conservatives: 25%
- MAGA Voters: 14%
“Sherrill is getting what no politician on the national level gets these days,” Dan Cassino, Professor of Government and Politics and Executive Director of the FDU Poll, said. “That approval is political capital in her talks with the legislature.”
Despite high-profile clashes over immigration and Gateway tunnel funding, New Jerseyans appear more interested in results than resistance. When asked how Sherrill should handle the President, the plurality of voters opted for cooperation.
| Desired Strategy | Percentage of Voters |
| Work with Trump | 42% |
| Defy Trump | 31% |
| “It Depends” (Volunteered) | 26% |
Notably, 40 percent of Black voters and 44 percent of Hispanic voters—groups critical to the Democratic coalition—volunteered that the strategy should “depend” on the specific issue, signaling a pragmatic approach to federal-state relations.
Perhaps the most striking finding in the FDU Poll is the significant decline in voters identifying with the “MAGA” movement. While the coalition remains loyal to the President, its total footprint in New Jersey has shrunk considerably over the last two years.
Self-Identified MAGA Voters in New Jersey:
- January 2024: 27%
- March 2026: 16%
The drop-off is most pronounced among Independents, where identification fell from 31 percent to just 11 percent in the same period. Among Republicans, MAGA identification dropped from a majority (54 percent) to 37 percent.
“Being a MAGA voter isn’t like being a conservative or a libertarian,” Cassino explained. “People move pretty freely in and out of it depending on how they’re feeling about Trump at the moment.”
As Sherrill moves from the honeymoon phase into the “tough choices” of her first budget, analysts expect these numbers to face their first real stress test. For now, the Governor holds a strong hand as she navigates the transition from a federal lawmaker to the executive of one of the nation’s most politically complex states.
Methodology Note: The survey was conducted March 20–28, 2026, among 805 registered New Jersey voters. The margin of error is +/- 3.9 percentage points.
