New Jersey

Murphy Holds 16-Point Lead on Ciattarelli, Voters Focused on Pandemic: Poll

NJ Gov. Phil Murphy would be the first Democrat to win a second term in the job since 1977 if he wins

AP

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, left, will campaign for his second term against GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, right.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy holds a 16-point lead over businessman Jack Ciattarelli in this fall's gubernatorial race, with voters closely focused on the recovery from the pandemic and their tax burdens, a new Monmouth University Poll finds.

The Democrat Murphy has the support of 52% of registered voters to 36% for the Republican Ciattarelli, according to the poll released Wednesday. Murphy holds a commanding lead in the northern and central parts of the state, while Ciattarelli leads by five points in southern Jersey.

Murphy also holds a whopping 80-point lead among Black voters and 50-point advantage among Hispanic and Asian voters. Ciattarelli leads by nine points among white voters, driven by a huge lead among those without a college degree.

Asked to rank the most important issues facing the state, COVID and property taxes dominate. Voters given Murphy a wide edge on the pandemic and a narrower one on the economy, but slightly prefer Ciattarelli on tax issues.

The telephone poll of 810 registered voters was conducted Aug. 11 to 16 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

Ciattarelli, a former member of the state Assembly, is making his second bid for governor. One of his biggest challenges in the election may prove to be awareness; 61% of those polled by Monmouth said they had no opinion of him one way or another, including 44% of Republicans.

Murphy, on he other hand, is trying to become the first Democrat to be re-elected to the job since 1977.

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