Gov. Phil Murphy's approval rating has taken a hit since the COVID-19 pandemic began with slightly less than a majority of voters saying he should be re-elected in the fall.
The Monmouth University Poll comes before campaigning really begins but shows significant support for Murphy. He had a job approval rating of 71% at the early stages of the pandemic. That has now dropped to 57%.
Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, notes it is not uncommon for the governors to have high poll numbers at the start of a crisis. Chris Christie saw his meteoric rise in the polls after Superstorm Sandy plummet but still won reelection.