New Jersey voters are increasingly distancing themselves from the MAGA movement, with just 10 percent now identifying with President Donald Trump’s political brand, down sharply from 27 percent ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Moreover, self-identified MAGA voters actually showed a steady decline, as it was at 16 percent just in March this year. The recent findings have thus fueled speculation about the sudden pivot to Democratic Party preference.
The findings, released Tuesday by Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), have sparked celebrations among critics of the movement, with one commenter declaring, “Good. Bigots should be uncomfortable again.” The poll surveyed 805 likely New Jersey voters between October 16 and October 22, finding that MAGA identification had fallen six percentage points since March alone.
The retreat is particularly striking among Republicans. More than two-thirds of the state’s Republicans identified as MAGA in January 2024, compared with roughly one-third today. Dan Cassino, an FDU professor of government and politics and executive director of the university’s poll, described the latest decline as remarkable. He said the numbers showed how “toxic the MAGA brand has become, even among Republicans.”
The findings arrive as Republicans face a difficult fight in New Jersey’s upcoming congressional midterm elections. Democratic candidates lead Republicans 55 percent to 32 percent among likely voters statewide, according to the same survey. Among those very likely to vote or who have already cast their ballots, the Democratic advantage widens to 59 percent to 33 percent.
Why the Pivot?
Affordability and gas prices emerged as major concerns, with 90 percent of respondents saying affordability was important to their vote and 87 percent saying the same about gas prices. On social media, commenters debated whether the numbers reflected genuine political change or simply voters abandoning a controversial label.
“I see MAGA [expletive] on their car and I flip them off, simple as that,” one commenter wrote, adding that supporters became particularly upset when confronted. Another suggested the movement’s supporters were becoming less willing to advertise their political allegiance. “They’re ashamed to wear the red hat, but they’ll vote straight R behind the curtain,” the commenter argued.
Others questioned whether the decline meant much if voters continued supporting Republican candidates. “What they say they identify publicly vs how they vote in confidence are likely going to be different,” one commenter observed. One commenter summed up the backlash with a blunt slogan: “Make Trump Support Humiliating Again.”
Whether voters are abandoning MAGA itself or simply distancing themselves from its name remains an open question and a point of contention on social media users. Still, the poll suggests the movement’s public appeal in New Jersey has weakened considerably since 2024.
