Ciattarelli Leads GOP; Fulop in Second as Dems Remain Divided

With New Jersey’s June 10 gubernatorial primaries approaching, Republican voters are rallying behind former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, while Democrats remain divided in a race with no clear frontrunner, according to the latest Rutgers-Eagleton Poll.

Ciattarelli leads the Republican field with 42% support among Republican and Republican-leaning voters. His closest challenger, former radio host Bill Spadea, stands at 12%.

On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill leads with 17% support, followed by Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop at 12%. The next tier includes NJEA President Sean Spiller with 10%, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at 9% each, and former Senate President Steve Sweeney at 7%. Nearly a third of Democratic voters—32%—remain undecided.

“On the Democratic side, there is no clear frontrunner, given that most of the Democratic candidates are within striking distance of one another,” said Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling.

Second-choice preferences among Democrats are also evenly distributed. Gottheimer is the most common second choice, at 16%.

Despite holding public office or having statewide profiles, many candidates remain unfamiliar to large segments of the electorate. Fulop and Baraka are unknown to 46% of voters, despite being mayors of New Jersey’s two largest cities.