Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has highlighted the importance of America’s global leadership as a key issue in the upcoming 2024 election. With Democrats currently holding control over both chambers of the state legislature and the governor’s office, Republicans face a challenging task in gaining control. The Democrats hold a majority of 46 seats in the state Assembly, while Republicans have 34. In the state Senate, Republicans hold 15 seats, while Democrats have 25. The upcoming election will decide all 80 seats in the Assembly and 20 seats in the Senate. Any gains made by Republicans could have implications for the 2024 General Election and raise concerns for President Biden and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.
Although Republicans have been in the minority since 2002, Democrats faced a setback in 2021, losing six seats and reducing their majority from 52-28 to 46-24. Republicans seem to have an advantage in terms of generating more monthly new voter registrations compared to Democrats. A recent poll conducted by Stockton University indicates that voters have a low approval rating for Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey who is currently facing federal indictment on bribery charges and allegations of acting as a foreign agent.
The poll, conducted by the Stockton Polling Institute of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy, involved 630 New Jersey adults and revealed that a majority of residents, approximately 80%, were either very familiar or somewhat familiar with the charges against Menendez. Seventy-one percent of voters expressed their desire for Menendez to resign, with only 8% supporting his continuation in office. This sentiment was shared by both Democrats and Republicans, with 78% and 79% respectively believing that Menendez should step down.
The poll also showed concerning numbers for Democrats overall, with President Biden’s approval rating standing at only 38% and a majority of 54% expressing disapproval. The divide between Democrats and Republicans is evident, with 76% of Democrats approving compared to just 5% of Republicans. Independent voters in New Jersey also seem dissatisfied, with only 30% approving of the president’s performance and 59% expressing disapproval.
It is worth noting that there are 28 legislative seats without incumbents seeking re-election in New Jersey, representing 23% of the state’s legislative body. This is the highest open seat rate in the last decade, according to Ballotpedia.
The upcoming New Jersey legislature elections will be closely watched as they could have implications for the 2024 General Election. Republicans face an uphill battle in their quest to gain control, but if they make any gains, it could potentially impact the political landscape and raise concerns for President Biden and Gov. Murphy.
