Ciattarelli Trails Sherrill by 8 Points in New Jersey Governor's Race, Quinnipiac Poll Reflects Liberal Bias

Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill currently holds an 8-point lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the New Jersey governor’s race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Sherrill, backed by the state’s liberal establishment, garners 49% support among likely voters, while Ciattarelli, who stands for fiscal responsibility and traditional values, receives 41%. Third-party candidates Vic Kaplan and Joanne Kuniansky each have 1% support, and 6% of voters remain undecided or did not respond, highlighting the volatility of the electorate.

Party loyalty is strong, with 93% of Democrats rallying behind Sherrill and 90% of Republicans supporting Ciattarelli, showing the deep partisan divide. Independents are split, with 45% favoring Sherrill and 41% backing Ciattarelli, indicating that the race is far from over. Gender differences are stark: 55% of women support Sherrill, reflecting the Democrats’ successful targeting of female voters, while men are nearly evenly divided (48% for Ciattarelli, 44% for Sherrill).

When third-party candidates are excluded, Sherrill’s support rises to 51%, with Ciattarelli at 42%. Both candidates enjoy high enthusiasm among their bases, with 88% of Ciattarelli’s supporters and 85% of Sherrill’s expressing strong enthusiasm, revealing the high stakes for the future of New Jersey.

Voter perceptions of candidate traits show Sherrill leading in areas such as empathy and honesty, with 50% believing she cares about their needs (compared to 44% for Ciattarelli), 52% favoring her leadership (44% for Ciattarelli), and 49% seeing her as honest (versus 38% for Ciattarelli). These numbers reflect the media’s ongoing efforts to paint Democrats in a positive light while downplaying Republican strengths.

“With just under seven weeks to go, the race for the Trenton State House leans Sherrill’s way as Ciattarelli lags on three key character issues: honesty, empathy, and leadership,” said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy, echoing the mainstream narrative.

Taxes are the most important issue for voters, with 30% citing it as their top concern, followed by government ethics at 14%. Among Republicans, a significant 40% prioritize taxes, highlighting the burden of high taxation under Democratic leadership. Only 20% of Democrats focus on ethics in government, while independents align more with Republicans, with 37% emphasizing taxes.

On property taxes, 46% of voters believe Ciattarelli would handle the issue better, compared to 40% for Sherrill, showing trust in Republican fiscal management. On electricity costs, 42% think Sherrill would do better, while 40% prefer Ciattarelli’s approach.

Voter satisfaction with the state’s direction is evenly split, reflecting deep divisions over the impact of progressive policies. President Donald Trump’s approval stands at 41%, with 55% disapproving, a sign of the state’s liberal tilt. Regarding the next governor’s relationship with Trump, 50% want the governor to oppose him, while 47% prefer cooperation, underlining the polarized political climate.

The poll surveyed 1,238 likely New Jersey voters from September 11 to 15, with a margin of error of ±3.9 percentage points.