New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller has catapulted to second place in the six-candidate field for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, according to an internal poll of likely Democratic primary voters conducted by Working New Jersey, a super PAC tied to Spiller and the NJEA.
The Public Policy Polling survey has Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) leading Spiller, 16%-11%, with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and former Senate President Steve Sweeney tied for third place with 9%. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has 9%, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly) is at 5%.
More than four in ten Democrats (43%) remain undecided in what remains an extraordinarily close, up-in-the-air race to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy.
Spiller’s movement in the ballot test shows considerable movement since August, when he was at 2%, to his 6% in an October tracking poll. Working in New Jersey reported spending nearly $800,000 in 2024.
Sherrill has the highest favorables: 39%-12%, followed by Spiller, a former Montclair mayor, at 28%-14%. Fulop is at 24%-12%; Baraka at 23%-11%; and Gottheimer at 22%-15%. Sweeney is upside-down at 22%-28%.
An Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill poll released last week showed a statistical tie: Sherrill (10%) led Spiller and Baraka (8%), Gottheimer and Sweeney (7%), and Fulop (4%).
The six Democratic candidates face off in their first debate on Sunday, February 2 at 7 PM. The debate is sponsored by the New Jersey Globe, On New Jersey, and Rider University.
Public Policy Polling surveyed 615 likely Democratic primary voters on January 22-23 with a margin of error of +/- 4%.
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