More than two-thirds of New Jersey residents support Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed millionaire’s tax, but are showing mixed views when it comes to his overall performance, according to the first poll in a partnership between Rutgers University‘s Eagleton Institute of Politics and Fairleigh Dickinson University.
The poll found New Jerseyans strongly (46%) or somewhat (26%) support raising taxes on households that make more than $1 million annually, with the rest either strongly (14%) or somewhat opposed (14%) to it.
“Support is just as strong for a millionaires tax as it was a year and a half ago,” Ashley Koning, assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, said. “This may change as more details are released and as the proposal plays out in the Legislature in the coming months, but as of now, this could be the major win that Murphy needs – at least in the public’s eyes.”
After more than a year in office, half (50%) of the poll recipients said Murphy has yet to make any significant accomplishments. More voters approve (52%) than disapprove (43 percent) of his job performance, but support is not strong.
“These numbers are similar to both of his most recent predecessors, Governors Chris Christie and Jon Corzine at a similar time in their administrations. One went on to a second term, while the other was defeated two years later,” Krista Jenkins, professor of government at Fairleigh Dickinson University and director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll, said.
Thoughts on how the governor handles key issues is also mixed. His lowest approval numbers are on taxes and the state pension fund and his highest are on weather-related emergencies.
The poll of 1,203 New Jersey adults was conducted between March 7 and 22 with a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percentage points.
