Poll: Most NJ voters fear extreme weather, back resilience

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The basics:

• FDU Poll shows 77% of NJ voters concerned about flooding impacts
• 66% say state should do more to protect infrastructure, water, energy
• 93% view resilience investments as important for NJ’s future
• 76% support $3B public bond to reduce flood risks and boost resilience

A new poll out Monday from Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll, in partnership with Rebuild By Design and the Environmental Defense Fund, examines how New Jersey voters feel about extreme weather, as well as what should be done in response.

The survey was conducted between July 17–23, 2025. It polled 806 registered voters in New Jersey.

Overall, 77% of voters are concerned (37% very, 40% somewhat) about property and infrastructure damage caused by extreme weather events like flooding. Meanwhile, 23% are not concerned (16% not too concerned, 7% not all concerned).

The poll also looked at these topics with a partisan lens:

• Democrats 90% concerned (56% very, 34% somewhat)
• Republicans 63% concerned (21% very, 42% somewhat)
• Independents  76% concerned (32% very, 44% somewhat)

Seeing is believing

“Preparation and mitigation are partisan issues in the abstract, but politics doesn’t matter as much when people are seeing the damage with their own eyes,” said Dan Cassino, a professor of government and politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University and executive director of FDU Poll. “You don’t have to believe in man-made climate change to think the sort of flooding we’ve been seeing in New Jersey is a problem.”

“In the past decade alone, flooding in New Jersey has led to the loss of dozens of lives, homes, and businesses,” said Kate Boicourt, NY-NJ director, Climate Resilient Coasts and Watersheds of Environmental Defense Fund. “New Jersey voters know that enough is enough, and that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

“Investing in resilience can prevent these disasters, reap returns of 13 to 1 or more, create jobs, and make our neighborhoods safer and greener.”

You don’t have to believe in man-made climate change to think the sort of flooding we’ve been seeing in New Jersey is a problem.
– Dan Cassino, executive director, FDU Poll

Key findings in the poll include:

When asked if the state government should be doing more, less or about the same as it is now to protect our buildings, coastlines, water supply, and energy and transportation infrastructure from the damage caused by extreme weather events:

• 66% more
• 5% less
• 27% about the same
• 2% don’t know

That same question, broken down by political party:

• Democrats 78% more; 3% less; 18% about the same; 2% don’t know
• Republicans 53% more; 6% less; 37% about the same; 4% don’t know
• Independents 63% more; 9% less; 27% about the same; 2% don’t know

When asked how important it is for New Jersey to invest in projects that will reduce flood risks, strengthen our infrastructure, protect our water supply, and make communities more resilient to extreme weather events:

• 93% important (60% very, 33% somewhat)
• 4% not too important
• 3% not all important
• 1% don’t know

Broken down by political party:

• Democrats 97% important (73% very, 24% somewhat); 3% not important
• Republicans 89% important (51% very, 38% somewhat); 9% not important; 1% don’t know
• Independents 91% important (49% very, 42% somewhat); 9% not important; 1% don’t know

On the question of supporting or opposing a $3 billion public bond in New Jersey to fund projects that reduce flood risks, strengthen our infrastructure, protect our water supply and more our communities more resilient:

• 76% support (36% strongly, 40% somewhat)
• 18% oppose (11% somewhat, 7% strongly)
• 6% don’t know

Broken down by political parties:

• Democrats 86% support (49% strongly, 36% somewhat); 9% oppose; 5% don’t know
• Republicans 64% support (23% strongly, 41% somewhat); 30% oppose;7% don’t know
• Independents 75% support (33% strongly, 42% somewhat); 20% oppose; 5% don’t know

The poll also broke down findings by age group and race – the full poll results will be available here.

‘It makes sense to take notice’

“Republicans are less likely to trust the government to do anything, and mitigating weather damage is no exception. So, when we see that Republicans and Democrats both favor doing something, it makes sense to take notice,” said Cassino.

Amy Chester, director of Rebuild by Design, said extreme weather is already impacting New Jersey families and their pocketbooks. She notes that the state faces $277 billion in property value and $3.2 billion in annual tax revenue at risk from flooding.

“New Jersey voters overwhelmingly support actions to help communities adapt to increasing weather events, and by planning ahead, we can mitigate loss of life, loss of homes, and loss of tax dollars,” said Chester.