President Donald Trump is making surprising gains in New Jersey, traditionally a Democratic stronghold.
A new Emerson College/Pix 11/The Hill poll shows Trump and Democratic Governor Phil Murphy both with 47% approval. Murphy’s own approval is lower in the same poll, at just 40%.
Trump, who lost New Jersey by 14 points in 2016, narrowed that margin significantly in 2024, losing to Kamala Harris by only 5.9%. He also flipped several Democratic counties and helped grow Republican voter registration by nearly 10% since 2020.
Pollster Jason Corley says this shift reflects growing discontent with Democratic leadership. The GOP sees opportunity, especially with the 2025 governor’s race approaching. Though Democrats still hold a large voter registration edge, New Jersey is no longer a guaranteed win for them — it’s becoming a battleground.
