Welcome to 2026: A Year to Take Action for Democracy

A Message from the Director

As we begin Rutgers University’s spring semester, it is my pleasure to wish you a happy new year – 2026 promises to be momentous for many reasons. We begin this year with a new administration here in New Jersey, and as we look ahead, the country will be preparing for consequential midterm elections this fall – with the entire House of Representatives up for election, 35 seats in the U.S. Senate, 36 gubernatorial seats, and numerous state and local elected offices across the country. This year also marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the start of the American Revolution – a milestone that will be celebrated nationally and in every state including here in New Jersey.

Here’s What N.J. Wants Most from Mikie Sherrill as She Becomes Governor

“While affordability was the all-encompassing buzzword of the 2025 governor’s race, taxes
remain New Jerseyans’ No. 1 priority,” said Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and
director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

The Center for American Women and Politics' Ready to Run^® New Jersey returns on March 20-21. Secure your spot for the Garden State's premier campaign training program for women. Gain the tools to begin your political journey through CAWP's program designed for women who want to run for office, work on a campaign, get appointed to office, become community leaders, or learn more about the political system.

Reminder to Apply

Apply Now: Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship 2026-2027

Are you a scientist, engineer, or healthcare professional seeking to implement your field experience and education in a new way? In this fellowship, you will work alongside policy and decision-makers in New Jersey providing your scientific expertise to help develop evidence-based public policy in a variety of state government agencies through 3 program tracks: Legislative, Executive, and Climate Action. The priority deadline to apply is March 15.

Learn More and Apply

Apply Now: Rutgers-Eagleton Washington Internship Award

Calling all Rutgers undergraduates: receive up to $6,000.00 in award support this summer for in-person internships with government, nonprofit, or advocacy organizations in Washington, D.C. The Rutgers-Eagleton Washington Internship Award program supports outstanding undergraduate students while they intern in D.C. by offsetting living expenses. Rutgers undergraduate students from all campuses and class years are eligible to apply. The deadline to apply is February 6 at 5:00PM.

Learn More and Apply

Upcoming Events

Jan. 30 | 12PM - 2PM
RDL Civics Bootcamp

Join the Rutgers Democracy Lab (RDL) for a Civics Bootcamp Workshop, an interactive, hands-on session designed for students of all majors, disciplines, class years, and experience levels. You’ll learn how to advocate for causes you care about, from identifying decision-makers to shaping policy-focused solutions. Come learn from expert faculty, share your ideas, and build practical skills you can use. Lunch from Jersey Mike's will be served.

Feb. 6 | 10:30AM - 12PM
Inside Politics 2026: National Headlines, Midterm Buzz, and New Jersey’s Future

Join the Eagleton Institute of Politics for a fireside chat with Eagleton alumni who are experts in New Jersey politics to discuss insider politics focused on the country at this moment, midterm elections, and the first 100 days of Governor Sherrill's administration. Online webinar open to all Rutgers alumni.

Eagleton in the News

ROI-NJ | Rutgers-Eagleton Poll: New Jerseyans give Murphy a C as governor, D+ on taxes and affordability

“Gov. Murphy will leave office much as he entered it – a governor who rarely elicited strong reactions and generally avoided sharp swings in public opinion,” said Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. “Murphy exits with the steadiest ratings of any governor in our five decades of polling. He received neither the highest nor lowest ratings of any governor on record.”

Rutgers Today | What to Expect From Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s Administration

"I don’t think we should make too many inferences based on each individual she has appointed, but if you take a broad view, you can see the type of coalition she is attempting to build. She has held over some Cabinet members from the Murphy administration, which makes sense in a Democrat-to-Democrat transition. But perhaps most important, she has appointed a number of people both to her Cabinet and to her staff with strong experience in Trenton and in state politics," said Kristoffer Shields, Director of the Center on the American Governor.

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