Beth Ellen Adubato

Wherever impeachment is warranted and possible by law, begin the process. Wherever prosecution is warranted, begin the process.  White collar crime is still crime even when it is committed by members of the executive branch. War crimes that are committed when there is no war? That is just crime.

Brian Varela

First, I’ll use every oversight tool available to expose this administration’s corruption and protect the watchdogs Trump is trying to eliminate. Trump illegally fired 17 Inspectors General in the dead of night because he’s terrified of accountability. I’ll cosponsor legislation to strengthen IG protections, support robust whistleblower protections, and use hearings and investigations to put a spotlight on the self-dealing and abuse of power coming out of this White House. Transparency is the enemy of corruption, and I’ll fight to make sure the American people know exactly what’s being done in their name.

Second, I’ll champion the For the People Act, which would get big money out of politics, require disclosure of dark money, expand and protect voting rights, strengthen ethics enforcement, and create a code of ethics for the Supreme Court. We need to give these ethics laws real teeth. Right now, the Hatch Act is being violated openly and repeatedly with zero consequences. I’ll push to strengthen enforcement mechanisms so that officials who use their public positions for political gain actually face accountability. I was the first candidate in this race to reject corporate PAC money and I’ve pledged to never become a lobbyist but individual commitments aren’t enough. We need structural reform so that elected officials work for the people, not their portfolios or their donors.

Megan O’Rourke

1. Ban stock trading by political appointees, the Supreme Court, and Congress 
2. Revise campaign finance by providing public finance matches for small dollar donors and banning Super PACs (this would be legally challenged and would force the Supreme Court to re-evaluate Citizens United)

Michael Roth

First, I would use the full oversight, subpoena, and investigatory powers of Congress to expose corruption and enforce accountability without fear or favor. I would make it clear to every Trump Administration official, every company, and every foreign entity that has engaged in corruption, self-dealing, or abuse of power that Congress will pursue them with the full force of its constitutional authority. That means aggressive investigations, public hearings, document production, sworn testimony, and referrals for prosecution where warranted. Corruption thrives in darkness; my role will be to drag it into the light and ensure no one is above the law.

Second, I would strengthen and enforce ethics, transparency, and anti-corruption laws to prevent abuse before it happens. This includes banning stock trading by members of Congress and senior executive officials, closing loopholes that allow influence peddling and revolving-door corruption, strengthening disclosure requirements, and protecting Inspectors General and whistleblowers from retaliation. I would also oppose any effort to politicize law enforcement or weaken independent oversight institutions.

Corruption is not just a moral failure. It directly drives higher costs, worse services, and broken trust in government. Addressing it is essential to making Washington work for the people it serves.

Rebecca Bennett

The personal corruption of the Trump administration is unprecedented in our history- we have a President who has taken more than a billion dollars in untraceable funds.  Within the DoD you have a secretary purging those whom he perceives as being anything short of a MAGA cheerleader.  We also saw an administration fire experts without any rhythm or reason because chaos and pain were the entire point.  The only way to fight back is to have a Congress that puts guardrails back up and actually serves as a co-equal branch of government, rather than the quiet cheerleader we have in office today.  Using the investigative power of Congress, holding those who actively broke the law accountable, and passing laws to prevent this looting from happening again will all be needed in the next Congress.

Tina Shah

First things first, it’s critical to defeat Republican Tom Kean Jr. and flip the House. A Democratic majority in Washington would allow for increased oversight of the current administration, including hearings to draw public attention toward the constant corruption. This is particularly important as Trump has dismantled oversight mechanisms by inserting politics into the Justice Department and wiping out internal functions like the Offices of the Inspector General across the executive branch.

The corruption and chaos runs deep, and a big part of it is thanks to the corporate influence that permeates Washington. That’s why I’m not taking a dime of corporate PAC money.

Electing representatives that are powered by, and for the people, will ensure that Congress focuses on what really matters: lowering costs, fixing our healthcare, and standing up for democracy.