Big Majority Approve Of NJ's Reopening Pace, Rutgers Poll Finds

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — A poll conducted in April and May at Rutgers' Eagleton Institute of Politics found that a majority of New Jersey residents say the state is reopening at an appropriate pace.

Sixty-six percent of New Jerseyans think the state is moving to lift restrictions and reopen businesses at just the right pace, according to the poll. Another 19 percent think it is happening too quickly, while 16 percent say it is happening too slowly.

Rutgers University pollsters called 1,502 adults across New Jersey, contacting them on landlines and cell phones from April 22 to May 2. Interviews were conducted in English and, when requested, in Spanish.

Monmouth County Republican state Sen. Declan O'Scanlon must find himself in that 16 percent, as he sent out a tweet this weekend calling for New Jersey to "defy Gov. Murphy and rebel!" O'Scanlon said Monday the tweet was "mostly tongue in cheek" but was meant to reflect growing business frustrations, which he said are "close to a boiling point."

When exactly do residents think New Jersey will reopen? The answer depends on how the question is asked. When asked how long they think it will take before the state starts to “loosen restrictions and reopen businesses,” New Jerseyans are somewhat optimistic for a summer timeline: 12 percent said it will happen sometime around now (May), 38 percent by June 1, and 26 percent by July 1.

Murphy announced Monday that he plans later this week to release "hard dates" for a reopening. The governor also said he plans to release a "robust" coronavirus test and tracing plan during a 1 p.m. news conference Tuesday

But when the question is phrased to ask how long before life returns to “normal” in New Jersey, views are somewhat bleaker. Just a third believe New Jersey will get back to normal by either mid-May, June 1 or July 1. Most say it will take longer than that: 17 percent say by the end of summer, 18 percent by the end of the year, and 25 percent longer than that.

Perceptions are also divided along familiar party lines: "While a majority of Democrats, independents and Republicans alike agree with the speed of the state’s approach to reopen, Democrats do so to a far greater degree than their counterparts," said Eagleton director Ashley Koning.

"Independents and Republicans are also more hopeful than Democrats when it comes to how long they think it will take before restrictions are loosened and life returns to normal," she said.

Related: Monmouth State Senator Calls For 'Rebellion, Defy Gov. Murphy'

And many New Jersey residents are still very worried about contracting the virus: Eight in 10 are very (41 percent) or somewhat (38 percent) worried that they or someone in their household will get sick from the coronavirus; almost the same number (41 percent very, 35 percent somewhat) are worried about being prepared if they or someone in the household contracts it; and just over six in 10 worry about obtaining a test if needed (29 percent very, 34 percent somewhat).

Finances and job security are also a concern for a large number of New Jerseyans. Almost six in 10 are very (35 percent) or somewhat (23 percent) worried they will get laid off from work or have their hours or pay reduced due to the outbreak. A similar number are worried about being able to meet their monthly financial obligations (29 percent very, 31 percent somewhat). Three-quarters are worried about losing financial investments or savings (42 percent very, 31 percent somewhat).

“Worry over the coronavirus itself, job or pay loss, finances and local hospitals having proper equipment is much higher among black and Hispanic residents than white residents — often by double digits — as well as lower-income residents compared to those in higher-income brackets,” Konig said.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.