MADISON, N.J. — Sean Spiller’s bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination is off to a rocky start, with new polling showing the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) president trailing behind top contenders despite his high-profile union backing.
Key Points
- NJEA president Sean Spiller lags in polls, with lower name recognition and favorability than top Democratic contenders.
- His connection to the NJEA appears to hurt him, as unfavorable ratings rise when voters associate him with the union.
- Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop are leading in favorability among Democratic voters.
The latest Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) poll reveals that Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop are leading the Democratic pack in favorability, while Spiller lags with lower name recognition and voter support. Among Democrats surveyed, just 56% say they have heard of Spiller, significantly behind Baraka (78%) and former State Senate President Steve Sweeney (73%).
The poll also highlights a surprising liability for Spiller: his NJEA ties. An experiment within the survey found that respondents were more likely to recognize Spiller when described as NJEA president rather than as the former Montclair mayor. However, this recognition came with a downside—his unfavorable ratings increased from 10% to 16% when his union role was mentioned.
“One of Spiller’s biggest advantages in this race—his connection to the NJEA—also looks like something of a liability among voters,” said Dan Cassino, executive director of the poll and a professor of government and politics at FDU.
While ideological divisions within the Democratic Party are shaping the primary race, Spiller has yet to carve out a strong base of support. Baraka leads among progressives, Sherrill dominates among liberals, and Fulop is holding steady across all groups. Spiller, however, has failed to gain traction among any key Democratic voting bloc.
With a crowded field and name recognition playing a major role, Spiller faces an uphill battle to turn his NJEA influence into voter support.