Sherrill’s Performance Rated In New Poll

As Governor Mikie Sherrill approaches the milestone of her first 100 days in office, a new poll shows how New Jerseyans rate her performance so far.

According to the latest Rutgers-Eagleton Poll, 44% of the residents polled have a favorable impression of Sherrill, while 29% have an unfavorable one.

Both positive and negative opinions have ticked up a few points since the governor took office in January, but a quarter (24%) still have no opinion on Sherrill, and 3% say they don’t know who she is.

These favorability ratings mirror her approval ratings as well, as 45% approve of the job Sherrill is doing so far, 29% disapprove and 26% are unsure.

• Related: Sherrill Shocker: Approval Ratings For NJ Governor Released

“Barely three months have passed since Gov. Sherrill has taken office, and while we see her continue to garner more positive reactions than negative ones, many of her constituents are still forming an opinion,” said Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

“No governor can move the needle on the issues that matter most to New Jerseyans in just 100 days – especially against the backdrop of a hyperpartisan political climate and kitchen-table concerns like cost of living that have been building for years and will not yield overnight," Koning continued. "But among those who have made up their minds, about 6 in 10 hold a favorable impression and approve of the job Sherrill is doing."

“These are solid baseline numbers, and the real test will come as New Jerseyans see more of what she can deliver.”

In addition to Sherrill’s approval and favorability ratings, the poll also asked residents to give Sherrill an overall grade (on a scale from A to F) on how she’s doing as governor so far in different areas. The grades Sherrill received are as follows:

Job As Governor

• A: 13%
• B: 30%
• C: 19%
• D: 11%
• F: 14%
• Unsure: 14%

Cost Of Living

• A: 5%
• B: 13%
• C: 21%
• D: 16%
• F: 30%
• Unsure: 14%

Taxes

• A: 6%
• B: 14%
• C: 21%
• D: 14%
• F: 28%
• Unsure: 16%

Economy & Jobs

• A: 8%
• B: 21%
• C: 21%
• D: 13%
• F: 18%
• Unsure: 20%

State Budget & Government Spending

• A: 9%
• B: 20%
• C: 16%
• D: 12%
• F: 21%
• Unsure: 23%

Crime & Safety

• A: 11%
• B: 24%
• C: 19%
• D: 8%
• F: 18%
• Unsure: 21%

Transportation & Infrastructure

• A: 12%
• B: 21%
• C: 20%
• D: 12%
• F: 14%
• Unsure: 21%

Education & Schools

• A: 10%
• B: 23%
• C: 19%
• D: 10%
• F: 15%
• Unsure: 23%

Healthcare

• A: 8%
• B: 19%
• C: 20%
• D: 12%
• F: 15%
• Unsure: 26%

“Gov. Sherrill's grades mirror much of what we saw as Gov. Phil Murphy left office, pointing to how difficult it is for any new governor – especially one of the same party – to make headway on substantive issues while still building out her administration and setting an agenda,” Koning said. “None of these issues have easy answers, and the grades reflect that reality and the surmounting challenges that have grown over time, more than any judgment of her early governorship thus far.”

Pollsters also asked New Jersey residents their opinions on other politicians.

In reviewing Senator Cory Booker, 38% of residents said they have a favorable view, while 33% have an unfavorable view and 20% have no opinion. 8% said they don’t know who he is.

While residents are relatively split on Booker, New Jerseyans are twice as likely to have a positive than negative view of Senator Andy Kim (34% favorable versus 17% unfavorable), though half either have no opinion of him (30%) or don’t know who he is (20%).

As for President Donald Trump, 26% say they have a favorable impression of him, 61% are unfavorable and 12% have no opinion.

These results are from a statewide poll of 1,568 adults contacted through the probability-based Rutgers-Eagleton/SSRS Garden State Panel from March 27 to March 30.

The full poll can be found here.