West Long Branch, NJ – In case you didn’t know it already, New Jersey’s governor is really unpopular at home. The latest Monmouth University Poll finds Chris Christie’s job rating at an all-time low – even worse than the negative ratings earned by the state legislature. By a 2-to-1 margin, residents think the state is worse off for Christie’s time in office and the vast majority believe he endorsed Donald Trump primarily in the hope of getting a federal appointment.
Currently, just 27% of New Jersey adults approve of the job Christie is doing as governor while 63% disapprove. Among registered voters specifically, his rating is 26% approve and 65% disapprove. These ratings reflect a record low for the governor. Moreover, for the first time in Christie’s six-plus years in office, the state legislature actually enjoys a relatively better rating – 30% approve and 49% disapprove among all residents; 29% approve and 53% disapprove among voters.
“It’s really saying something when the legislature, which rarely manages to get its rating above water, is seen as more effective than the governor,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.
For the record, Christie does manage to eke out a net positive rating among his fellow Republicans (51% approve and 41% disapprove). This is more than offset, however, by dismal ratings from independents (23% approve and 65% disapprove) and Democrats (17% approve and 76% disapprove).
The poll found that twice as many New Jerseyans say that the state is currently worse off (41%) because of Christie’s time as governor than say it is better off (21%). Another 34% say the state is in about the same condition as when he took office from the somewhat more popular Jon Corzine, whose approval rating was in the mid to upper 30s when Christie defeated him in 2009.
Nearly 8-in-10 Garden State residents (79%) say Christie is more concerned with his own political future than he is with governing the state (13%) – marking the highest level of public skepticism about Christie’s public service commitment in more than four years of asking this question. In fact, the vast majority of New Jerseyans (68%) say the main reason that Christie threw his presidential endorsement to “The Donald” shortly after ending his own presidential bid was his desire to get some type of appointment in the Trump administration. Another 9% say this consideration was a minor reason for Christie’s endorsement, and just 15% say that getting a job in D.C. was the furthest thing from Christie’s mind when he decided to back Trump.
“Despite his statements to the contrary, the vast majority of New Jerseyans seem to believe that Christie’s main concern right now is figuring how to get out of the state as soon as possible,” said Murray.
The Monmouth University Poll also asked residents to rate the job being done by Barack Obama and the state’s two U.S. senators. All three get significantly more public opinion “love” than Christie. Obama’s rating now stands at 56% approve and 39% disapprove among all adults and 53% approve and 41% disapprove among registered voters. These numbers are somewhat more positive than they were a year ago.
The state’s junior senator, Cory Booker, earns a 49% approve and 21% disapprove rating among all residents and a 53% approve and 21% disapprove rating among voters. The state’s senior senator, Bob Menendez, who is currently under indictment, earns a 40% approve and 29% disapprove rating from all adults and a 41% approve and 31% disapprove rating from registered voters.
The poll also found that just over 6-in-10 state residents give New Jersey a positive rating as a place to live – 16% excellent and 46% good. This is a slight uptick from July of last year, when positive ratings stood at 55%, but is in line with positive ratings in the low 60s measured over the two years prior to that.
The Monmouth University Poll was conducted by telephone with 806 New Jersey adults, including 703 registered voters, from May 23 to 27, 2016. The total sample has a margin of error of ± 3.5 percent and the registered voter sample has a margin of error of ± 3.7 percent. The poll was conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch, NJ.
DATA TABLES
The questions referred to in this release are as follows:
(* Some columns may not add to 100% due to rounding.)
1.Overall, how would you rate New Jersey as a place to live – excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
TREND: | Excellent/ Good | Excellent | Good | Only Fair | Poor | (VOL) Don’t know | (n) |
May 2016 | 62% | 16% | 46% | 28% | 10% | 0% | (806) |
July 2015 | 55% | 12% | 43% | 30% | 15% | 0% | (503) |
May 2015 | 63% | 13% | 50% | 27% | 10% | 1% | (500) |
February 2015 | 63% | 15% | 48% | 25% | 11% | 1% | (805) |
September 2014 | 61% | 13% | 48% | 25% | 13% | 1% | (802) |
June 2014 | 62% | 15% | 47% | 26% | 11% | 0% | (800) |
April 2014 | 64% | 15% | 49% | 26% | 10% | 0% | (803) |
February 2014 | 63% | 15% | 48% | 26% | 11% | 0% | (803) |
December 2013 | 65% | 20% | 45% | 26% | 9% | 0% | (802) |
September 2013 | 65% | 19% | 46% | 25% | 10% | 1% | (783) |
April 2013 | 61% | 15% | 46% | 27% | 11% | 0% | (806) |
February 2013 | 68% | 18% | 50% | 24% | 7% | 1% | (803) |
December 2012 | 72% | 20% | 52% | 21% | 5% | 1% | (816) |
September 2012 | 65% | 15% | 50% | 23% | 11% | 0% | (805) |
July 2012 | 69% | 17% | 52% | 23% | 8% | 0% | (803) |
April 2012 | 70% | 20% | 50% | 23% | 7% | 0% | (804) |
February 2012 | 62% | 15% | 47% | 26% | 11% | 1% | (803) |
October 2011 | 67% | 15% | 52% | 24% | 8% | 0% | (817) |
August 2011 | 57% | 14% | 43% | 31% | 11% | 1% | (802) |
May 2011 | 59% | 14% | 45% | 29% | 11% | 0% | (807) |
December 2010 | 63% | 17% | 46% | 26% | 10% | 1% | (2864) |
October 2007 | 63% | 17% | 46% | 25% | 12% | 1% | (1001) |
August 2004 | 68% | 22% | 46% | 21% | 10% | 1% | (800) |
May 2003 | 72% | 20% | 52% | 23% | 5% | 0% | (1002) |
April 2001 | 76% | 23% | 53% | 19% | 4% | 1% | (802) |
March 2000 | 76% | 25% | 51% | 17% | 6% | 0% | (800) |
May 1999 | 76% | 22% | 54% | 19% | 5% | 0% | (800) |
February 1994 | 71% | 18% | 53% | 22% | 7% | 0% | (801) |
March 1990 | 68% | 21% | 47% | 25% | 6% | 1% | (800) |
February 1988 | 78% | 27% | 51% | 17% | 4% | 1% | (800) |
February 1987 | 84% | 31% | 53% | 11% | 4% | 0% | (800) |
May 1985 | 81% | 29% | 52% | 14% | 3% | 1% | (500) |
October 1984 | 80% | 29% | 51% | 15% | 4% | 1% | (1000) |
January 1981 | 66% | 16% | 50% | 26% | 7% | 1% | (1003) |
July 1980 | 68% | 18% | 50% | 23% | 7% | 2% | (1005) |
[ Q2-5 previously released. ]
6.Do you approve or disapprove of the job Chris Christie is doing as governor?
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | |||||
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | |||
Approve | 27% | 26% | 28% | 51% | 23% | 17% | |
Disapprove | 63% | 65% | 51% | 41% | 65% | 76% | |
(VOL) Don’t know | 10% | 8% | 21% | 9% | 12% | 7% |
TREND: All adults Second term | May 2016 | July 2015 | May 2015 | Feb. 2015 | Sept. 2014 | June 2014 | April 2014 | Feb. 2014 | Jan. 2014 | Dec. 2013 | Sept. 2013 | April 2013 | Feb. 2013 |
Approve | 27% | 36% | 35% | 48% | 46% | 50% | 51% | 50% | 59% | 65% | 61% | 63% | 70% |
Disapprove | 63% | 58% | 54% | 44% | 39% | 42% | 41% | 44% | 32% | 25% | 24% | 26% | 17% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 10% | 6% | 11% | 8% | 15% | 9% | 8% | 6% | 8% | 10% | 15% | 11% | 14% |
Unwtd N | 806 | 503 | 500 | 805 | 802 | 800 | 803 | 803 | 541 | 802 | 783 | 806 | 803 |
TREND: All adults First term | Dec. 2012 | Sept. 2012 | July 2012 | April 2012 | Feb. 2012 | Oct. 2011 | Aug. 2011 | May 2011 | Feb. 2011 | Sept. 2010 | July 2010 | April 2010 | Feb. 2010 |
Approve | 67% | 53% | 52% | 51% | 52% | 54% | 48% | 47% | 47% | 45% | 44% | 41% | 33% |
Disapprove | 21% | 35% | 36% | 35% | 38% | 38% | 42% | 49% | 40% | 38% | 44% | 44% | 15% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 12% | 11% | 12% | 14% | 10% | 9% | 9% | 5% | 12% | 17% | 12% | 15% | 52% |
Unwtd N | 816 | 805 | 803 | 804 | 803 | 817 | 802 | 807 | 801 | 801 | 801 | 804 | 803 |
TREND: Registered voters Second term | May 2016 | July. 2015 | May. 2015 | Feb. 2015 | Sept. 2014 | June 2014 | April 2014 | Feb. 2014 | Jan. 2014 | Dec. 2013 | Sept. 2013 | April 2013 | Feb. 2013 |
Approve | 26% | 34% | 35% | 47% | 46% | 49% | 51% | 49% | 58% | 65% | 63% | 65% | 70% |
Disapprove | 65% | 60% | 56% | 46% | 42% | 43% | 43% | 46% | 35% | 27% | 24% | 26% | 16% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 8% | 6% | 9% | 6% | 12% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 13% | 10% | 13% |
Unwtd N | 703 | 453 | 441 | 712 | 680 | 717 | 690 | 690 | 470 | 698 | 674 | 694 | 697 |
TREND: Registered voters First term | Dec. 2012 | Sept. 2012 | July 2012 | April 2012 | Feb. 2012 | Oct. 2011 | Aug. 2011 | May 2011 | Feb. 2011 | Sept. 2010 | July 2010 | April 2010 | Feb. 2010 |
Approve | 69% | 55% | 53% | 50% | 55% | 55% | 50% | 46% | 49% | 44% | 45% | 42% | 31% |
Disapprove | 22% | 36% | 35% | 38% | 37% | 37% | 41% | 49% | 41% | 40% | 43% | 44% | 15% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 9% | 10% | 12% | 12% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 5% | 9% | 16% | 12% | 13% | 53% |
Unwtd N | 726 | 715 | 678 | 692 | 709 | 693 | 730 | 725 | 718 | 726 | 747 | 719 | 716 |
7.Do you approve or disapprove of the job the state legislature is doing?
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | ||||
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | ||
Approve | 30% | 29% | 38% | 36% | 27% | 32% |
Disapprove | 49% | 53% | 35% | 48% | 53% | 49% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 20% | 19% | 27% | 16% | 21% | 19% |
TREND: Registered Voters | May 2016 | July 2015 | May 2015 | Feb. 2015 | Sept. 2014 | June 2014 | April 2014 | Feb. 2014 | Jan. 2014 | Dec. 2013 | Sept. 2013 | April 2013 | Feb. 2013 | Dec. 2012 | Sept. 2012 | July 2012 |
Approve | 29% | 32% | 33% | 37% | 35% | 36% | 38% | 38% | 47% | 44% | 38% | 41% | 40% | 43% | 32% | 34% |
Disapprove | 53% | 51% | 48% | 46% | 46% | 48% | 46% | 47% | 35% | 38% | 36% | 42% | 35% | 34% | 43% | 45% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 19% | 17% | 19% | 17% | 19% | 17% | 15% | 14% | 18% | 19% | 27% | 17% | 25% | 22% | 25% | 21% |
Unwtd N | 703 | 453 | 441 | 712 | 680 | 717 | 690 | 690 | 470 | 698 | 674 | 694 | 697 | 726 | 715 | 678 |
TREND: Registered Voters Continued | April 2012 | Feb. 2012 | Oct. 2011 | Aug. 2011 | May 2011 | Feb. 2011 | July 2010 | April 2010 | Feb. 2010 | July 2009 | Feb. 2009 | Sept. 2008 | July 2008 | April 2008 | March 2008 | Oct. 2007 | Feb. 2007 |
Approve | 37% | 34% | 33% | 35% | 32% | 29% | 25% | 19% | 24% | 31% | 23% | 29% | 27% | 28% | 25% | 32% | 34% |
Disapprove | 41% | 42% | 45% | 48% | 48% | 45% | 49% | 57% | 49% | 48% | 55% | 50% | 47% | 55% | 53% | 43% | 42% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 23% | 24% | 22% | 17% | 20% | 26% | 26% | 24% | 27% | 22% | 22% | 21% | 26% | 17% | 22% | 25% | 23% |
Unwtd N | 692 | 709 | 693 | 730 | 725 | 718 | 747 | 719 | 716 | 792 | 721 | 709 | 889 | 720 | 719 | 688 | 681 |
8.Do you approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing as president?
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | ||||
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | ||
Approve | 56% | 53% | 67% | 19% | 47% | 86% |
Disapprove | 39% | 41% | 27% | 79% | 43% | 12% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 6% | 6% | 6% | 2% | 10% | 2% |
TREND: Registered Voters Second Term | May 2016 | July 2015 | May 2015 | Feb. 2015 | Sept. 2014 | June 2014 | April 2014 | Feb. 2014 | Jan. 2014 | Dec. 2013 | Sept. 2013 | April 2013 | Feb. 2013 |
Approve | 53% | 52% | 48% | 54% | 41% | 45% | 49% | 49% | 44% | 47% | 50% | 55% | 60% |
Disapprove | 41% | 46% | 46% | 42% | 54% | 51% | 47% | 47% | 50% | 47% | 41% | 42% | 33% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 6% | 3% | 6% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 8% | 2% | 7% |
Unwtd N | 703 | 453 | 441 | 712 | 680 | 717 | 690 | 690 | 470 | 698 | 674 | 694 | 697 |
TREND: Registered voters First Term | Dec. 2012 | April 2012 | Feb. 2012 | Oct. 2011 | Aug. 2011 | May 2011 | Sept. 2010 | July 2010 | April 2010 | Feb. 2010 | Oct. 2009 | July 2009 |
Approve | 58% | 54% | 51% | 47% | 52% | 60% | 47% | 51% | 54% | 53% | 54% | 59% |
Disapprove | 35% | 41% | 42% | 46% | 39% | 36% | 44% | 42% | 41% | 38% | 33% | 29% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 6% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 4% | 9% | 6% | 5% | 9% | 14% | 12% |
Unwtd N | 726 | 692 | 709 | 693 | 730 | 725 | 726 | 747 | 719 | 716 | 785 | 792 |
[ QUESTIONS 9 AND 10 WERE ROTATED ]
9.Do you approve or disapprove of the job Bob Menendez is doing as United States Senator?
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | ||||
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | ||
Approve | 40% | 41% | 32% | 41% | 34% | 48% |
Disapprove | 29% | 31% | 19% | 35% | 34% | 21% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 31% | 28% | 49% | 24% | 32% | 31% |
TREND: Registered voters only | May 2016 | July 2015 | May 2015 | Feb. 2015 | Sept. 2014 | June 2014 | April 2014 | Feb. 2014 | Dec. 2013 | April 2013 | Feb. 2013 | April 2012 | Feb. 2012 | Oct. 2011 | Aug. 2011 | May 2011 | July 2010 | Oct. 2008 | April 2008 | Jan. 2008 |
Approve | 41% | 38% | 42% | 49% | 45% | 47% | 51% | 49% | 47% | 44% | 41% | 40% | 41% | 43% | 38% | 46% | 38% | 34% | 41% | 37% |
Disapprove | 31% | 38% | 38% | 27% | 30% | 34% | 31% | 30% | 27% | 38% | 31% | 25% | 26% | 29% | 33% | 28% | 33% | 25% | 31% | 25% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 28% | 23% | 20% | 24% | 26% | 19% | 18% | 21% | 26% | 18% | 28% | 35% | 33% | 28% | 29% | 26% | 29% | 41% | 28% | 37% |
Unwtd N | 703 | 453 | 441 | 712 | 680 | 717 | 690 | 690 | 698 | 694 | 697 | 692 | 709 | 693 | 730 | 725 | 747 | 900 | 720 | 698 |
10.Do you approve or disapprove of the job Cory Booker is doing as United States Senator?
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | ||||
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | ||
Approve | 49% | 53% | 32% | 36% | 43% | 65% |
Disapprove | 21% | 21% | 21% | 34% | 24% | 10% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 30% | 27% | 47% | 30% | 33% | 25% |
TREND: Registered voters only | May 2016 | July 2015 | May 2015 | Feb. 2015 | Sept. 2014 | June 2014 | April 2014 | Feb. 2014 | Dec. 2013 |
Approve | 53% | 45% | 51% | 51% | 42% | 48% | 47% | 47% | 37% |
Disapprove | 21% | 24% | 21% | 21% | 23% | 25% | 23% | 20% | 21% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 27% | 31% | 27% | 27% | 35% | 27% | 30% | 32% | 43% |
Unwtd N | 703 | 453 | 441 | 712 | 680 | 717 | 690 | 690 | 698 |
Turning back to New Jersey,
11.Do you think Chris Christie is more concerned with governing the state of New Jersey or more concerned about his own political future? [ CHOICES WERE ROTATED ]
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | ||||
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | ||
Governing the state of NJ | 13% | 13% | 13% | 23% | 12% | 8% |
His own political future | 79% | 79% | 76% | 65% | 79% | 87% |
(VOL) Both equally | 3% | 3% | 5% | 6% | 4% | 1% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 5% | 5% | 7% | 6% | 4% | 4% |
TREND: | May 2016 | July 2015 | May 2015 | Feb. 2015 | Sept. 2014 | June 2014 | April 2014 | Feb. 2014 | Jan. 2014 | Sept. 2013 | Dec. 2012 | Feb. 2012 |
Governing the state of NJ | 13% | 17% | 16% | 25% | 33% | 32% | 35% | 35% | 42% | 44% | 61% | 39% |
His own political future | 79% | 76% | 70% | 66% | 56% | 55% | 54% | 56% | 47% | 38% | 30% | 48% |
(VOL) Both equally | 3% | 4% | 8% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 6% | 12% | 5% | 6% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 5% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 7% | 6% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 4% | 7% |
Unwtd N | 806 | 503 | 500 | 805 | 802 | 800 | 803 | 803 | 541 | 783 | 816 | 803 |
12.Do you think New Jersey is currently better off or worse off because of Christie’s time as governor, or is it about the same as it was before he took office?
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | ||||
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | ||
Better off | 21% | 20% | 22% | 46% | 20% | 9% |
Worse off | 41% | 44% | 29% | 21% | 39% | 57% |
About the same | 34% | 33% | 39% | 32% | 37% | 31% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 4% | 2% | 10% | 0% | 4% | 3% |
13.Do you think Chris Christie endorsed Donald Trump for president because he hopes to get a position in the Trump administration or was this not a reason for his endorsement? [ If YES : Was this the main reason for his endorsement or a secondary reason?]
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | ||||
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | ||
Yes, the main reason | 68% | 69% | 62% | 55% | 69% | 76% |
Yes, a secondary reason | 9% | 8% | 14% | 10% | 9% | 9% |
No, not a reason | 15% | 15% | 15% | 26% | 15% | 8% |
(VOL) Don’t know | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% | 7% | 7% |
[ Q14-18 held for future release. Q19-27 previously released. ]
The Monmouth University Poll was sponsored and conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute from May 23 to 27, 2016 with a statewide random sample of 806 adult residents, including 566 contacted via live interview on a landline telephone and 240 via live interview on a cell phone, in English. Monmouth is responsible for all aspects of the survey questionnaire design, data weighting and analysis. Final sample is weighted for region, age, education, gender and race based on US Census information. Data collection support provided by Braun Research (field) and SSI (RDD sample). For results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling has a maximum margin of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points (unadjusted for sample design). Sampling error can be larger for sub-groups (see table below). In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.
POLL DEMOGRAPHICS (weighted) | |||
21% Rep | 49% Male | 28% 18-34 | 62% White |
42% Ind | 51% Female | 40% 35-54 | 13% Black |
37% Dem |
| 33% 55+ | 16% Hispanic |
|
|
| 9% Asian/Other |
Registered Voter Sample (weighted) | |||
22% Rep | 47% Male | 23% 18-34 | 66% White |
40% Ind | 53% Female | 40% 35-54 | 13% Black |
38% Dem |
| 37% 55+ | 12% Hispanic |
|
|
| 8% Asian/Other |