WASHINGTON — Democrats are making corruption a central campaign theme by arguing that political influence benefits wealthy interests while leaving ordinary people to shoulder higher costs for housing, health care and other necessities. The strategy is appearing in campaigns across the country, including those of Sen. Jon Ossoff in Georgia, James Talarico in Texas and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. Their shared message is that government is tilted toward the wealthy at the expense of everyday Americans. A national survey conducted last month by Blue Rose Research and the Democratic-aligned group Winning Jobs Narrative Action found that messages connecting corruption with household economic pressures increased support for Democratic congressional candidates by about 3 percentage points. The survey was released as campaigns entered the final weeks before the 2026 elections. The findings offer evidence that anti-corruption arguments may resonate more when tied to tangible concerns such as rent, medical bills and the cost of living. The approach also gives Democrats a way to frame economic hardship as a consequence of political choices and influence, rather than as an abstract ethics dispute. The survey result measures the effect of the tested messaging; it does not establish how voters will ultimately cast their ballots. Still, candidates’ turn toward pocketbook-focused corruption claims reflects an effort to connect concerns about who holds power in Washington with pressures facing households nationwide.