Gadarian Quoted in Christian Science Monitor Article on Corruption as a Top Issue for Voters

October 30, 2026

Christian Science Monitor

Shana Kushner Gadarian

Political Science Department

Campbell Public Affairs Institute

Media & Journalism

Political Parties

U.S. Elections

United States

Christian Science Monitor

Shana Kushner Gadarian

Though affordability has dominated the 2026 midterm narrative, government corruption has surged as a campaign issue in the final stretch, with Democratic candidates especially making it central to their pitch and polls showing it ranking at or near the top of voter concerns. Both parties have spent nearly $300 million on ads about alleged corruption, and the Trump administration has also highlighted alleged corruption by Democratic officials.

“One of the things he [Trump] ran on in 2016 was ‘draining the swamp,’” says Shana Gadarian, professor of political science and Merle Goldberg Fabian Professor of Excellence in Citizenship and Critical Thinking. Today, “Democrats are running on that, and saying, ‘Now he’s the swamp.’”

Gadarian points to the Paxton candidacy in Texas as an example of how voters can draw a link between alleged political corruption and their own financial struggles.

“The smartest candidates are using corruption [by saying,] ‘People in government are getting rich off of you, and you can’t get ahead because of that,’” she says.

Read more in the Christian Science Monitor article, “Corruption rises near the top of voter concerns – a rare midterm twist.”