New poll: Trump’s backing keeps Ciattarelli ahead of GOP challengers

❎ List of every candidates for both major parties

❎ How they performed in latest poll

With the June 10 primaries quickly approaching in New Jersey, a new poll from Emerson College, PIX11, and The Hill shows some new developments in this year's governor's race with under a month left and early voting already underway.

Released on Thursday, the polls results show a static Republican nomination fight, while a Democratic candidate appears to be surging at the perfect time.

Former assemblyman and 2021 GOP gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli leads his party's pack, notching 44% support of New Jersey Republican primary voters. Most public and internal polls have shown him in the clear lead for most of the race, and this new poll is no exception. Former radio host Bill Spadea remains in a distant second, and sits at 18% support. State Senator John Bramnick has 8% support, while no other candidate has above 5%. 23% of respondents said they are undecided.

Despite recently getting the endorsement of President Donald Trump, who remains broadly popular among New Jersey Republicans, Ciattarelli's numbers have not moved much.

Not much has changed for the Democrats either, save for one candidate.

Congresswoman Mikie Sherill, long considered a slight favorite to get her party's nomination, is the clear leader among a crowded field of Democrats with 28% support from New Jersey Democratic primary voters, an 18% jump from the last version of the Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey in January.

The remaining Democratic contenders are all much closer to each other than they are to Sherill, which has held true for much of the race: Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and Congressman Josh Gottheimer are at 11%. Sean Spiller, the NJEA president, is at 10%, and former State Senator Steve Sweeney is at 5%.

The general election to determine Democrat Phil Murphy's successor, as well as the makeup of the state Legislature, is Nov. 4.

Major Republican candidates for NJ governor in the June 10 primary

Jack Ciattarelli

Forty-four percent support among Republicans in the Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey.

Ciattarelli, from Raritan Borough, is a former state assemblyman and was the 2021 GOP nominee for governor; he narrowly lost that election to Phil Murphy.

Bill Spadea

Eighteen percent support among Republicans in the Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey.

Spadea rose to prominence as a local FOX TV host and New Jersey 101.5 radio personality.

John Bramnick

Eight percent support among Republicans in the Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey.

Bramnick, from Plainfield, is a state senator and lawyer. He is the only GOP candidate willing to distance himself from President Donald Trump.

Major Democratic candidates for NJ governor in the June 10 primary

Mikie Sherill

Twenty-eight percent support among Democrats in the Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey.

Sherrill, originally from Virginia, is the representative for New Jersey's 11th Congressional District in North Jersey.

Steve Fulop

Eleven percent support among Democrats in the Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey.

Fulop, from Edison, is the mayor of Jersey City.

Ras Baraka

Eleven percent support among Democrats in the Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey.

Baraka is the mayor of Newark.

Josh Gottheimer

Eleven percent support among Democrats in the Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey.

Gottheimer, from Livingston, is the Representative for New Jersey's 5th Congressional District in North Jersey.

Sean Spiller

Ten percent support among Democrats in in the Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey.

Spiller, born in Jamaica before immigrating to New Jersey, is the president of the teachers' union, the New Jersey Education Association. He is the former mayor of Montclair.

Steve Sweeney

Five percent support among Democrats in the Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey.

Sweeney, from Camden, is the former State Senate president.

Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom