Live dataNew Jersey · 2026 U.S. Senate

Know the problem. Know the candidates. Then vote.

Non-partisan data for New Jersey, drawn from public records and hundreds of news stories.

Public databases
12
Behind 20 measured problems
News stories on problems
954
Read and scored one by one
News stories on candidates
568
Checked against their public record

The 5 biggest problems in New Jersey

Measured from public government data. Not from opinions or headlines.

  1. 1Transportation & Traffic

    Among the 3 worst states.

    Critical77/100
  2. 2Cost of Living & Inflation

    Among the 3 worst states.

    Critical76/100
  3. 3AI Displacement Risk

    Among the 5 worst states.

    Critical70/100
  4. 4Climate Vulnerability

    Worse here than in 42 other states.

    Critical70/100
  5. 5Wage Stagnation & Income Inequality

    Worse here than in 40 other states.

    Moderate63/100
See all 20 problems →

Where the news gets New Jersey wrong

We compare what the data says with what the news covers.

  • Transportation & TrafficUnder-covered

    The data says transportation & traffic is a bigger problem in New Jersey than the news coverage suggests.

  • Energy CostsUnder-covered

    The data says energy costs is a bigger problem in New Jersey than the news coverage suggests.

  • Mental Health & Addiction CrisisOver-covered

    The news talks about mental health & addiction crisis in New Jersey far more than the data says it is a problem here.

See every problem compared →

Who is running in New Jersey

Ranked by Leadership Score — how news coverage describes their leadership. 100 is the best score any leader in U.S. history would earn.

  1. Cory A. Booker
    DemocratParty nominee

    46

    Leadership Score (WATT)

  2. Justin Michael Ll.M. Murphy
    RepublicanParty nominee

    2

    Leadership Score (WATT)

  3. Michael Estrada
    Independent

    Not enough news coverage to score yet

  4. Not enough news coverage to score yet

Detail breakdown
MeasureCory A. BookerJustin Michael Ll.M. MurphyMichael EstradaVeronica Fernandez
Leadership Score45.9 / 1002.0 / 100——
Credit for strengths in the news+71.7+2.0——
Deduction for criticism in the news−25.8−0.0——
News stories analysed5332900
Record Score5.7 / 10No voting record — has not served in CongressNo voting record — has not served in CongressNo voting record — has not served in Congress

Look at the details

Everything above, with the numbers behind it.

Longer bar means bigger problem

Ranked by government data alone, ignoring headlines and politics. 0 means the problem does not exist. 100 means it is as bad as it gets. The dotted line is the average across all 50 states.

1. Transportation & Traffic
77 (Critical)Worse than average
2. Cost of Living & Inflation
76 (Critical)Worse than average
3. AI Displacement Risk
70 (Critical)Worse than average
4. Climate Vulnerability
70 (Critical)Worse than average
5. Wage Stagnation & Income Inequality
63 (Moderate)Worse than average
6. Government Inefficiency
63 (Moderate)Worse than average
7. Energy Costs
61 (Moderate)Worse than average
8. Housing Affordability
60 (Moderate)Worse than average
9. Pollution & Public Health
60 (Moderate)Worse than average
10. Job Availability
59 (Moderate)Worse than average