Emerson Poll: Ciattarelli ahead by 13 points; Democratic race is tied

An Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill poll released today shows Jack Ciattarelli with a 13-point lead over Bill Spadea in the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, with the Democratic contest in a four-way statistical tie.

The poll puts Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) at 10%, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka each at 8%, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly) and former Senate President Steve Sweeney each at 7%.  Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop is at 4%.

Ciattarelli leads Spadea, 26%-13%, with State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) at 4% and former State Sen. Edward Durr (R-Logan) at 2%.

“With less than six months until New Jersey’s gubernatorial primaries, 2021 Republican gubernatorial candidate Ciattarelli emerges as the early favorite in the primary, with presumably higher name recognition,” said Spencer Kimball, Emerson College Polling director.  “On the Democratic side, the field is more divided, with Sherrill, Spiller, Baraka, Gottheimer, and Sweeney emerging as early contenders, though the 55% share of undecided voters leaves room for any candidate in the race to consolidate support.”

The Emerson poll also included four other Republicans in the poll: former perennial candidate Roger Bacon and Hans Herberg each at 3%,  and former Burlington City Mayor Jim Fazzone and Robert Canfield each at 2%.

The poll was conducted between January 18-21, with a sample size of 437 Democratic primary voters and 334 Republican primary voters.  The Democratic margin of error is +/- 4.6%, and the margin of error on the Republican side is +/- 5.3%.