As New Jerseyans cast their ballots Nov. 4, a new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll highlights the financial struggles that voters are feeling as they head to the polls.

Conducted by the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, the survey engaged 795 likely voters in New Jersey from Oct. 3–17 (margin of error +/- 4.7%).

It finds widespread pessimism about both the national and state economies, as well as growing difficulty for New Jerseyans to afford basic necessities such as housing, utilities and groceries.

“For most New Jerseyans, pessimism continues to permeate their views on both the state and national economies,” said Ashley Koning, assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center. “This negativity about the economic and political landscape is rooted in personal, daily experiences.”

Key findings

• Economy: Nearly 70% view both the national and state economies negatively
  • National economy:
    • 37% “poor”
    • 32% “only fair”
    • 25% “good”
    • 5% “excellent”
  • State economy:
    • 28% “poor”
    • 42% “only fair”
    • 26% “good”
    • 2% “excellent”

• Partisan divides:
  • Republicans are more positive about the national economy (60% rate it good/excellent), while large majorities of Democrats (92%) and independents (75%) rate it negatively
• Trends:
  • 53% say the national economy has worsened over the past year
  • 49% say the same about New Jersey’s economy
• Affordability:
  • 70% find it difficult to afford utilities (+22 points since June)
  • 67% struggle with groceries and food costs; about two-thirds with rent or mortgage (+51 points since June)
  • 63% find it difficult to afford health care
  • More than half find gasoline and transportation costs challenging
• Personal finances:
  • Half of voters say they are “holding steady”
  • 43% feel they are “falling behind”
  • 47% say they are worse off than their parents were at the same age — including two-thirds of voters aged 18–34
• Income inequality:
  • 77% say differences in income are too large
  • 53% want federal action to address it

“When half of voters say they struggle to afford basics like groceries or utilities, and they’re worse off than their parents financially, it’s clear that affordability remains the defining issue in this race and a central lens through which voters are viewing this year’s gubernatorial election,” said Koning.

“While partisanship is often the focus during gubernatorial campaigns, it matters little for voters’ opinions on the affordability of necessities like housing, health care, and electricity,” said David Martin, a research associate at ECPIP. “Instead, the major differences are by race and ethnicity, income, and education. Nonwhite residents, those earning under $100,000, and those without a college degree find it especially difficult to afford these costs.”

Full poll results will be available here.