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The basics:

• 58% of New Jersey voters approve of Gov. Sherrill’s job performance
• 34% disapprove, 8% remain unsure, according to FDU poll
• Voters split on whether Sherrill should work with President Trump
• Poll also shows decline in MAGA identification among New Jersey voters

A new Fairleigh Dickinson University poll finds New Jersey voters give Gov. Mikie Sherrill strong early marks. The survey found 58% approve of her job performance, while also indicating many want her to work with President Donald Trump when necessary.

The survey, conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University between March 20–28, 2026, sampled 805 registered New Jersey voters using a mix of live caller telephone interviews and text-to-web surveys.

The poll shows 34% of voters disapprove of Sherrill’s performance, while 8% are unsure.

“Sherrill is getting what no politician on the national level gets these days: the benefit of the doubt,” said Dan Cassino, a professor of government and politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University and executive director of the FDU Poll. “Independents, and even some Republicans, have nothing bad to say about her yet, and that approval is political capital in her talks with the Legislature.”

Key findings

Support by party

Sherrill’s support is strongest among Democrats and left-leaning voters, with 88% of Democrats and progressives and 85% of liberals approving. She is also picking up some support among Republicans and conservative-leaning voters, with 22% of Republicans, 25% of conservatives and 14% of MAGA voters approving.

The Trump card

Voters are split on how she should approach Trump, with 42% saying she should work with him, 31% saying she should defy him, and 26% volunteering that “it depends.”

Views break sharply along partisan lines, with just 15% of Democrats supporting working with Trump, compared with 80% of Republicans and 93% of MAGA voters. Black (40%) and Hispanic (44%) voters are more likely to say it depends.

The poll also shows a decline in MAGA identification in New Jersey, dropping from 27% of voters in early 2024 to 16% today, including decreases among Republicans and independents.

Sherrill has aggressively pushed back on the Trump administration since taking office, clashing on issues such as Gateway Tunnel funding, immigration enforcement and ICE, even as voters signal they are open to cooperation in certain cases.

Tough decisions on tap

Cassino stressed that as the governor enters the heart of budget season and begins making tougher decisions, her strong numbers are likely to slip. Though they currently represent a notable bump from the mid-40% approval range that defined much of former Gov. Phil Murphy’s second term.

“The question is what Sherrill does with her high support while she has it?” said Cassino.

He added that while voters in New Jersey may not like Trump very much, they’re pragmatic.

“The fact that they’re volunteering a conditional response about working with the President tells us that they want to see cooperation when it’s possible.”

The full poll results can be found here.