WorldPosted at: Oct 30 2026 7:56PM


Government corruption emerges as central point of concern for voters ahead of US midterms

Washington, Oct 30 (UNI) Government corruption has emerged as a major concern for American voters ahead of the US midterm elections, with nearly nine in 10 saying elected officials use their public office to advance their own financial interests or those of their donors, according to an exclusive Harris Poll for The Guardian.
The survey found that 76% of voters believe elected officials care more about enriching themselves than improving the economy for ordinary Americans.
Corruption was also a greater concern than corporate power, with 65% identifying government corruption as more troubling, compared with 29% who cited corporate influence. Just under 10% said neither was a concern.
The rising cost of living remains the most important issue for voters, with 36% identifying it as the single biggest factor influencing their midterm vote.
Corruption ranked next among a range of other concerns, including immigration, housing costs, abortion, crime and public safety, and artificial intelligence.
The findings come nearly two years into Donald Trump’s second presidency, during which he has overseen major changes to Washington and drawn scrutiny over several financial and political decisions.
Trump demolished the White House’s historic East Wing to make way for a $400m ballroom, saying $335m would come from private donors, including companies such as Apple and Nvidia.
The federal workforce has also shrunk by more than 420,000 employees after Elon Musk was given authority to introduce sweeping job cuts, having donated nearly $300m to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
Meanwhile, Trump’s sons have been running the family’s cryptocurrency business, which has generated $1bn for the president since his return to the White House.
Trump also accepted a private jet worth $400m as a gift from Qatar’s royal family.
The poll found that voters were twice as likely to identify Republicans as having a bigger corruption problem than Democrats.
Some 40% said the Republican Party had the greater problem, including 29% of Republican voters. A further 32% said both parties were equally affected, while 21% identified Democrats.
Independent voters, whose support will be important in competitive races, were also more likely to point to Republicans, with 34% saying the party had a bigger corruption problem compared with 13% who named Democrats.
Most independents, 42%, said both parties shared the problem.
The survey also found widespread concern that elected officials were prioritising their own interests and those of financial backers over ordinary voters.
A total of 78% agreed that politicians cared more about enriching themselves than helping people like them.
“Government corruption has shot up to become the second most important issue in the midterms after cost of living. Americans are triggered by leaders they now see as both responsible for and profiting off their growing economic hardship,” said John Gerzema, chief executive of Harris Poll.
The growing concern over political influence comes as the gap between the performance of financial markets and the economic experience of many households remains pronounced.
The S&P 500 and technology-heavy Nasdaq both reached record highs in early October, driven in part by sustained investment in artificial intelligence.
However, the gains have disproportionately benefited wealthier Americans. The top 1% own half of the US stock market, while the bottom 50% hold just over 1%.
The concentration of wealth has also translated into greater political spending. Campaign contributions have continued to set records since the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling removed restrictions on certain forms of political spending.
Advertising expenditure for this year’s midterms has already reached $11.2bn, the highest for any midterm cycle, according to NBC News.
Just 40 donors have contributed $2.5bn to election races this year, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
Last week, billionaire Michael Bloomberg announced an additional $80m in funding for Democratic candidates, while Trump said he was personally contributing $400m to Republican campaigns.
The flow of money into elections has fuelled concerns that elected officials may be more responsive to wealthy donors and corporate interests than to their constituents.
Voters are also looking for measures to ease the cost-of-living crisis, regardless of which party controls Congress after the midterms.
Among the policies included in the Harris survey, 32% supported limiting the influence of companies and lobbyists on government decisions. Removing tariffs was the next most popular option, backed by 29%, followed by restrictions on how much companies can raise prices, supported by 24%.
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