A new Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released Tuesday, October 27, shows Democratic congressional candidates leading Republicans by a substantial margin in New Jersey, with voters citing the cost of living and gasoline prices among their most important concerns.
According to the survey, 55% of likely voters say they support Democratic congressional candidates, compared with 32% who favor Republicans — a 23-percentage-point difference.
The findings come just one week before the November 3 midterm elections, when New Jersey voters will choose their representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Democratic Support Reaches 59% Among the Most Likely Voters
The Democratic advantage is even larger among respondents who say they are very likely to vote or have already cast their ballots.
Within that group, 59% support Democratic candidates, compared with 33% who favor Republicans.
The survey also found that 8% of likely Republican voters intend to support Democratic candidates, while 5% of likely Democratic voters plan to vote Republican.
These findings suggest differences in voter loyalty and political preferences as the congressional elections approach.
Younger and Hispanic Voters Favor Democrats
The poll indicates particularly strong Democratic support among younger voters and Hispanic residents of New Jersey.
Among likely voters under 30, 63% favor Democratic candidates, while 20% support Republicans.
Hispanic voters favor Democrats by 58% to 29%.
These findings are notable because Republicans had made gains among younger and Hispanic voters during the 2024 presidential election.
According to the FDU researchers, some of those gains appear to have diminished ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Cost of Living and Gas Prices Dominate Voter Concerns
Economic issues emerged as major factors influencing voter preferences.
According to the survey, 90% of respondents considered affordability an important election issue, while 87% identified gasoline prices as important.
Researchers also examined how specific political issues influenced responses.
When respondents were asked about affordability before expressing their congressional preferences, Democratic candidates received 58% support compared with 31% for Republicans.
Questions about gasoline prices and congressional checks on President Donald Trump’s power were also associated with substantial Democratic advantages.
The findings indicate that voters’ concerns about everyday expenses are closely connected to their political preferences.
Support for the MAGA Movement Declines
Another finding concerns voters who identify with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) political movement.
According to FDU, the share of New Jersey voters identifying as MAGA declined from 27% in January 2024 to 16% in March 2026 and 10% in the latest survey.
Dan Cassino, professor of government and politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University and executive director of the FDU Poll, linked the decline to President Trump’s political standing.
The findings suggest changes in political identification among New Jersey voters, although the survey does not establish how every individual will vote.
Poll Results Are Not Election Results
The FDU survey was conducted from October 16 through October 22, 2026, among 805 registered New Jersey voters.
Respondents participated through telephone interviews and surveys delivered by text message.
The reported overall margin of sampling error was approximately 3.4 percentage points.
The survey measures voter preferences ahead of the election. It does not represent actual votes counted for either party.
This distinction is particularly important because New Jersey has already begun early voting, with registered Democrats participating at higher rates than registered Republicans.
Early voting statistics identify voters by party registration, while opinion polls ask which candidates respondents intend to support.
Neither provides a final election result.
New Jersey Approaches November 3 Elections
The latest FDU findings provide another measure of the political environment in New Jersey as congressional campaigns enter their final week.
The survey shows that economic concerns, particularly affordability and gasoline prices, are central issues for many voters.
However, individual congressional races may differ from statewide polling averages because of local candidates, district demographics, and voter turnout.
The final results will be determined by ballots cast and counted in each congressional district.
Source: Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll, “Jersey Voters Overwhelmingly Prefer Democrats in Midterm Race,” October 27, 2026.
By NJ RADAR Team