The Record
Accountability and corruption
Corruption was a top concern among Democratic voters. They want accountability under the law: investigated and prosecuted under the law where the evidence shows crimes. Here is what the polls found and what Jeffries said.
What the polls found
AP Voter Poll
The AP Voter Poll, which surveyed more than 100,000 voters, found about 4 in 10 voters named the economy as the top issue and about 3 in 10 named the state of democracy. About half said government corruption was crucial to their vote for Congress, and most of those voters backed the Democratic candidate.
SSRS Election Day poll
The SSRS Election Day poll found 90 percent of voters called corruption a crucial or major problem.
CNBC survey
A CNBC survey in October 2026 found 36 percent named government corruption among the most important issues facing the country.
Sources
Checks and balances
The AP Voter Poll found about 7 in 10 voters say Congress is not doing enough to provide checks and balances on the presidency.
SSRS Election Day poll: is corruption a crucial or major problem?
Crucial or major problem90%
AP Voter Poll: is Congress doing enough to check the president?
Not doing enough70%
Doing enough30%
CNBC survey: corruption among the most important issues
Among most important issues36%
AP Voter Poll: corruption crucial to vote for Congress
Crucial to their vote50%
What Jeffries said
On Nov 4, 2026
On MS NOW's Morning Joe, Jeffries said voters do not want Democrats to "get even" and want affordability. Progressive critics objected and said accountability matters.
His stated principles
Jeffries also said Democrats are guided by three principles: follow the facts, apply the law and follow the Constitution.
The American people don't want us to get even
He said voters want things done because life is too expensive.
Our view
Voters did not ask for revenge. They asked for accountability under the law, and about 7 in 10 voters said Congress is not doing enough to check the president. Calling that "getting even" shrinks what voters asked for.