Poll finds NJ strongly wanting Menendez to resign

Only 16% say he should serve out his term

By: Katie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... A majority of New Jersey residents want Senator Bob Menedez to resign rather than finish his term, according to a poll conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University.
..... In the wake of the announcement of several federal criminal charges against the state's senior senator, residents from all parts of the political sphere support Menendez less. Independent voters said they are more likely to support Republican candidates in the state legislative election next month [11/2023] when asked about it, the poll found.
..... Dan Csssino, the director of the poll and a professor of government and politics at the university, said that "Menendez has been able to weather charges in the past," going on to say that :this time, it just doesn't seem like he has any real support left."
..... The poll found that 70% of Garden Stat residents think Menendez should resign ahead of any possible reelection bids next year [2024] and 16% of people say he should serve out his term.
..... It also found that Republicans are more likely than Democrats or independents to say he should go, but not by much. The party breakdown has 80% of Republican saying he should resign compared with 67% of independents and 71% of Democrats.
..... Half of those polled were asked about Menendez and corruption in New Jersey before being asked about this year's [2023] legislative election, which see all 120 seats in Trenton up for grabs in just a few weeks. In that context, residents were more likely to say they will vote this year. [2023]
..... Reminding respondents about Menendez also made independents more likely to say they will vote for the Republican candidate in the upcoming election.
..... Omitting a reminder about Menendez and corruption saw independents favoring the Democratic candidate in their district by 6 points.
..... "Thinking about Menendez, makes less partisan voters more likely to say that they're going to vote Republican," Cassino said. "the question is whether those voters are going to bother to show up in what;s normally a very low-turnout election."

..... Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com.

HOME