Older voters were more likely than younger ones to identify the state of democracy as the most important issue facing the country. Among those aged 65 and above, about four in 10 cited it as the top concern, compared with three in 10 who pointed to the economy. Younger voters were more likely to rank the economy first.
These concerns helped make anti-corruption a central theme of Democratic campaigns, with candidates accusing Republican opponents of prioritising their own interests and those of donors over the wider electorate.
Democrats face challenge of balancing corruption probes with cost-of-living concerns
The White House has dismissed the prospect of Democratic investigations, warning that they could come at the expense of policies aimed at helping ordinary Americans.
“As the president has said, he’s willing to work with anyone to continue delivering victories for hardworking Americans,” White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said on Wednesday. “If Democrats choose to pursue sham investigations and radical left policies, they are choosing to work against the American people.”
Schumer, however, maintained that Democrats could pursue investigations into what he called “rampant corruption” while continuing to legislate on issues such as affordability.
In a letter to Democratic lawmakers announcing his bid for House speaker, Jeffries said the ‘days of the House functioning like a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump administration are over’.
‘The massive corruption the country has experienced from the Trump Cartel explains why very little is getting done to help everyday Americans,’ Jeffries wrote, pledging to tackle price gouging and push for a ban on stock trading by lawmakers. ‘That changes immediately.’
For Democrats, the challenge will be to sustain the focus on corruption without losing sight of the cost-of-living concerns that remain central to voters.
The Congressional Integrity Project, an advocacy group originally formed to counter Republican investigations into former president Joe Biden’s administration, is now shifting its focus to help Democrats make that connection. In a memo, the group urged lawmakers to trace the Trump administration’s actions to individuals, businesses and corporations that may be benefiting from them.
“Corruption is not just corruption,” said the group’s senior adviser, Jack Miller. “It is costing taxpayers and costing Americans in their everyday lives.”
With AP/PTI inputs
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