In a politically polarised American electorate, it can be hard to find bipartisan consensus on many issues. Ahead of the US midterm elections, however, there is one thing almost everyone can agree on: concern about government corruption.

A record 89% of Americans recently said in a Gallup poll that government corruption is widespread, with Republicans, Democrats and independents all in agreement (ranging between 83-91%). This marks a significant increase from 73% in Gallup’s polling from 2024.

Out of 132 countries Gallup polled on the question since 2023, only four have recorded higher overall levels of concern: Lebanon and Peru (both 92%), and Ghana and Nigeria (both 90%).

As much as cost of living issues have defined much of the recent campaign rhetoric, a recent Fox News Poll found that concern about corruption in government (88%) ranked higher among voters than inflation (85%) or gas prices (83%).

A CNBC survey similarly found government corruption to be the most important issue facing the country, above any concerns about the economy.

And according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact, of the US$11.6 billion that will be spent in political advertising this election cycle, more than US$275 million has gone to corruption-themed ads – around US$173 for Democrats and US$93 for Republicans.

Who do Americans blame?

As much as Democrats point to the unprecedented gifts from foreign governments to the Trump family and the massive expansion of the Trump family wealth during Donald Trump’s second presidential term, Americans are by no means exclusively blaming the Trump........

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