A strong majority of New Jersey voters believe the Trump administration’s trade policies are hitting their wallets directly. According to a Stockton University poll released today, 67% of voters say recent tariffs have led to higher prices for them and their families.
The findings from the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy highlight a stark partisan divide on economic perception, even as the legal battle over the President’s trade authority reaches a fever pitch.
While two-thirds of the state feels the pinch, the “pain at the pump and pantry” is viewed differently across party lines:
- Democrats: 93% believe tariffs have increased prices.
- Independents: 62% agree that costs have risen.
- Republicans: Only 22% see a price hike, while 51% maintain the tariffs have had no effect at all.
“New Jersey consumers recognize that trade policy doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” Alyssa Maurice, Hughes Center assistant director said. “For most voters, tariffs translate directly into higher costs at checkout.”
The poll was conducted between Feb. 6-16, just days before a landmark Supreme Court ruling struck down the President’s use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad tariffs. The court ruled that the power to tax imports belongs to Congress, not the executive branch.
In response, the administration has invoked a different statute to maintain a 10% universal tariff, which can remain in place for 150 days without Congressional approval.
The poll also tracked a decade-long shift in how New Jerseyans view American power. Today, 52% of voters believe the U.S. is less powerful and important globally than it was 10 years ago.
Interestingly, these views have flipped perfectly with the change in administration:
- In 2016 (under Obama), 65% of Republicans thought the U.S. was losing ground. Today, 68% of Republicans say the U.S. has gained standing.
- Conversely, 79% of Democrats now believe the U.S. has a diminished role, compared to only a small fraction who felt that way in 2016.
Despite the administration’s “America First” posture, New Jersey voters expressed a clear “hands-off” approach to specific foreign interests:
- Greenland: 68% oppose the proposed U.S. takeover of the territory.
- Venezuela: Following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces last month, 58% of voters say the U.S. should have little to no involvement in governing the country.
“Whether governing Venezuela, taking over Greenland, or using force in other countries, Americans have grown tired of this strategy,” Tina Zappile, Hughes Center director added
The Stockton University poll surveyed 700 New Jersey voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percentage points.
View the full poll results here.
