Exit polls from New Jersey and Virginia reveal warning signs for President Donald Trump, with voters expressing "broad dissatisfaction" with the president.
While exit polls were once heavily relied on to predict election outcomes, they now offer a snapshot of voter sentiment among in-person voters, given the rise in early and absentee voting.
In New Jersey, early votes favored Democrats (51%) over Republicans (29%). The exit polls found 55% of Tuesday’s voters in New Jersey disapprove of Trump, and 65% are angry or dissatisfied with the country’s direction.
“The president’s overall job approval is underwater among voters casting ballots in New Jersey and Virginia—two states that have repeatedly voted against Trump,” NBC News reported.
In Virginia, CNN noted that about 20% of voters have household ties to federal employment or contracting, with most feeling financially impacted by recent budget cuts. However, only a fifth say those cuts had a significant impact on them.
Virginia voters are deeply concerned about Trump’s mass deportation policies: over half believe he has gone too far. Meanwhile, 61% of voters say abortion should remain legal in most or all cases.
These gubernatorial contests are taking place in reliably blue states, and it’s unsurprising that Trump is viewed negatively in places like New York and California. However, statewide data shows Trump’s support has declined since November 2024 in both New Jersey and Virginia.
NBC News also highlighted that economic issues—especially the high cost of living—are top concerns. Most voters report they are either financially stagnant or falling behind, with fewer than ever saying they are “getting ahead”
Trump told CBS News over the weekend that the country is "doing very well. By the way, the stock market just hit-- perfect timing for your show, just hit an all-time high. It's hit an all-time high 48 times during the course of my-- nine-month period. But just yesterday, the stock market hit an all-time high. We're doing really well, and everybody knows it--"
Host Norah O'Donnell noted, "When the stock market is doing well, that doesn't affect everybody." But Trump insisted, "It does. Oh, it does, it does."
While some elections are about voting against someone, in these exit polls, 8 in 10 voters in Virginia say their vote is for their candidate of choice, not against the opponent.
In these exit polls, 8 in 10 Virginia voters said their support was for their chosen candidate, not simply against the opponent. In New Jersey, Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli are in a close race; Ciattarelli’s supporters want change, while Sherrill’s prioritize honesty and trustworthiness.
More voters rate Sherrill’s campaign as mostly fair, while views on Ciattarelli’s fairness are divided. “Ciattarelli’s supporters are a bit likelier than Sherrill’s to say their vote was mostly positive, rather than out of opposition,” CNN noted.
