New Jerseyans are a not feeling too comfortable on how the government is handling many key issues — taxes, health care, education — according to the latest Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Thursday.
In fact, when it comes to cost of living and affordability, 85% are dissatisfied — 52% very, 33% said they were somewhat; Only 12% feel the opposite — 2% very, 10% somewhat.
Residents feel similarly about how the state government is managing taxes: 80% dissatisfied — 53% very, 27% somewhat; 16% satisfied — 3% very, 13% somewhat
“There isn’t a single issue where a significant majority is satisfied, even those that have historically proven to be feathers in the state government’s cap,” Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling (ECPIP) at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, said. “Instead, residents are either net negative or divided on every topic we asked. New Jersey’s discontent sets the stage for an interesting governor’s race ahead, where frustration with both state and national politics will compete for the spotlight – and ultimately, for votes.”
Koning said that while polling throughout the past decade has consistently shown dissatisfaction on taxes, the data from the latest poll showed dissatisfaction on cost of living and affordability in the state has gone up by 10 points since 2017.
“Affordability has become a defining issue in New Jersey and especially in this year’s governor’s race. How each candidate interprets and tackles the issue will be key to persuading and turning out voters.”
New Jerseyans’ views:
- State budget and government spending 57% dissatisfied, 30% satisfied;
- Transportation and infrastructure 54% dissatisfied, 39% satisfied;
- State economy and jobs: 44% are satisfied, 48% are dissatisfied;
- Education and schools: 47% satisfied; 41% dissatisfied;
- Health care: 49% satisfied, 45% dissatisfied
- Crime and safety: 51% satisfied, 45% are dissatisfied
Results are from a statewide poll of 621 adults contacted through the probability-based
Rutgers-Eagleton/SSRS Garden State Panel from June 13 to June 16. The full sample has a
margin of error of +/- 5.4 percentage points.
