Grew up in New Jailsey. IMO anyone who chooses to live there deserves all the grief they get!
Some of us have circumstances (family - especially ageing parents, mortgages) that make it difficult to leave; we did elect Chris Christie twice but somehow the same voters consistently elect two Dem senators - and this is especially bad when Republicans control the senate because we have no influence at all.
If nothing more, NJ should serve as a warning to other states as to what happens when government employees become a dominant political factor, and also what happens when most voters are low-info people.