Murphy Has Big Lead Over Guadagno
Source: Monmouth University Polling Institute
West Long Branch, NJ - As the race for New Jersey's next governor shifts into high gear, the Monmouth University Poll finds former ambassador Phil Murphy with a daunting 27 point lead over the state's lieutenant governor Kim Guadagno. Neither candidate is particularly well known, though. The poll also found that fixing the state's highest-in-the nation property taxes is the top priority for Garden State voters this election year, although a range of other issues are also viewed as important.
Among all registered voters in New Jersey, a majority (53%) say they would vote for Murphy and 26% would choose Guadagno if the election for governor was today. Another 6% select an independent candidate and 14% are undecided. Murphy currently gets stronger support from his fellow Democrats (87%) than Guadagno does from her fellow Republicans (69%). Independents split 41% for Murphy and 28% for Guadagno.
"Party labels are the primary driver behind this early reading of the race since very few voters really know much about either candidate. It is not clear whether Guadagno's fortunes will improve as voters learn more about her current role as lieutenant governor considering how unpopular Chris Christie is right now. At the same time, something unfavorable could come out about Murphy, but the underlying partisan fundamentals of the state are working against the Republican right now," said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.
While most New Jersey voters are able to make a choice for governor, 6-in-10 say they really don't know enough about either nominee to form an opinion. Voters are split on Guadagno at 18% favorable and 21% unfavorable, with 61% having no opinion of her. Murphy does somewhat better at 29% favorable and 12% unfavorable, with 59% having no opinion of him.
Read more: https://www.monmouth.edu/polling-institute/reports/MonmouthPoll_NJ_071217/
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