Americans want a new Congress to prioritize government ethics and reform

New Partnership research finds Americans across the political spectrum saw government ethics and reform as a crucial issue in shaping their vote on election day.

11/04/2026

With Democrats set to win a majority in both chambers of Congress following the 2026 midterm elections, new polling from the Partnership for Public Service shows that Americans saw government ethics and reform as a crucial issue in shaping their vote on election day.

These results come from a nationally representative survey by the Partnership for Public Service conducted prior to the midterm elections using the AmeriSpeak omnibus survey and probability panel produced by NORC at the University of Chicago. The survey of 1,057 adults was conducted October 8-12, 2026. The margin of error is +/- 4.1%.

When asked which issue mattered most in deciding their vote, Americans ranked government ethics and reform second behind only inflation and the economy and ahead of healthcare, immigration, artificial intelligence and foreign policy. This issue is ranked second by Democrats, Republicans and independents alike, showing it resonated with voters across the political spectrum.

This heightened attention comes after a period of significant disruption and change in how the federal government operates, including efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce and the longest government shutdown in American history, alongside rising concerns over corruption.

When asked what issues related to government management the next Congress should prioritize, the top three issues—reducing waste and fraud, conducting oversight of the executive branch and implementing government reforms—were split nearly evenly.

However, these priorities varied by party. Forty-nine percent of Republicans said reducing waste and fraud was most important for the incoming Congress to prioritize compared with just 9% of Democrats and 17% of independents. Alternatively, 37% of Democrats believed Congress should prioritize oversight of the executive branch compared with 21% of independents and just 7% of Republicans.

Taken together, these findings point towards a public desire for increased attention to improving the management of the government. The Partnership’s Government for a New Era initiative advances a set of management reforms that will address these concerns and make government more effective, responsive and accountable.