Back in May, I wrote a Field Guide for running against corruption. As I argued then, Democrats should embrace an anti-corruption message in order to claim the mantle of outsider reformers at a time when people think the political and economic systems are deeply corrupt.
Since that memo, new polling shows that public opinions on corruption—specifically who and what is corrupt—have shifted.
Here's what Message Box Pro members need to know:
1. What the Polls Say
Perhaps unsurprisingly, as Trump has done more openly corrupt stuff, people's concerns about corruption have grown.
Last week, Gallup had a truly stunning finding — 89% of Americans believe that corruption is widespread throughout the government.
Nine in ten Americans think the government is corrupt! We are living in historically cynical times.
Navigator Research recently released some polling on corruption that shows how that cynicism is shaping our politics now and in the future. I encourage you to read the whole thing. It's full of useful, actionable insights.
One key finding is that people now overwhelmingly see Trump as corrupt. According to the poll, 60% say Trump is bringing more corruption to Washington, while 40% think he's cleaning it up. Those numbers were 50-48 at the beginning of his term. Another way to think about it: in 2025, almost none of Trump voters thought Trump was corrupt; now more than 10% do.
That's a big movement.
2. Voters See Costs and Corruption as Connected
For years, Democratic consultants and pollsters counseled against making corruption a major issue on the campaign trail. They argued, with some good reason, that voters didn't connect political corruption to the problems in their lives.
Well, that's changed and it's a huge deal.
The Navigator poll found that 81% of voters say that corruption is driving up their costs.
Overwhelming majorities now see corruption as directly tied to the most salient issue in politics. This isn't just permission to talk about stemming corruption; it's a mandate to do it.
When asked how political corruption contributed to rising costs, the top answers were allowing waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars (82% raise costs, including 52% raise costs a lot) and protecting monopolies and large corporations that price gouge consumers (82% raise costs, including 49% raise costs a lot).
3. How to Talk About It
Make it Matter to People: As the polling above shows, this is pushing on an open door, but "corruption is bad" is not a message. "My opponent is corrupt" is not a message. It's essential to show how your opponent's corruption, or their participation in a corrupt system, affects people's lives. There is such cynicism right now that every politician begins with a presumption of corruption, so we need to make the corruption matter to people.
Be Specific: Because everyone assumes everyone is corrupt, it's essential to be specific about why someone or something is corrupt. What donation happened in exchange for what vote? Who got access or influence they shouldn't? Which votes were taken that were corrupt? Generic accusations are just white noise that gets ignored.
No One Should Be Above the Law: Navigator tested a bunch of messages, and the best one was "we need to crack down on corruption because no one is above the law, whether they are a politician, billionaire CEO, or wealthy donor." More than three-quarters of voters found this statement convincing, and a majority of independents and non-MAGA Republicans found it very convincing.
Corruption is a Bipartisan Problem: The poll also found that while voters think Trump is corrupt, they do not think he is a singular problem. They tested two messages, and the version that talked about corruption being a bipartisan problem was 16 points more persuasive. Admitting that Democrats are not immune to corruption gives you credibility with voters to make the case. It makes your argument less partisan and therefore more trustworthy.
4. What to Do About It
Calling out corruption is necessary but insufficient. You also need a plan to do something about it, and all the better if that plan pisses off some of the people and entities that voters think are corrupt — politicians, lobbyists, corporations, and donors.
Navigator tested a series of policies and these were the top testing ones:
Recovering and returning stolen money to taxpayers (66% strongly support)
Prosecuting corporate wage theft (65% strongly support)
Banning companies from unfairly raising costs (62% strongly support)
Banning unfair price hikes during emergencies or shortages (60% very important)
Capping hidden fees (57% very important)
Prosecuting corporations for fraud (56% very important)
Banning the use of personal data to charge consumers differently (56% very important)
These measures all hold bad guys accountable and directly lower costs.
5. Final Thoughts
The polling is about as clear as it gets: voters think the system is rigged, they increasingly think Trump and Republicans are the ones rigging it, and they want someone to actually do something about it. That's the opening Democrats have been waiting for, but only if candidates take it. Vague outrage won't cut it. Say who did what. Tell voters what you'll do to stop it. And put a number on the money you'll get back for them. That's how "corruption" stops being a talking point and starts being a reason to vote.
