Polling firm admits fabricating data affecting key Democratic races

Wedgewood Polling has admitted to fabricating data in surveys cited by major media outlets, claiming the act was a "social experiment" to expose weaknesses in polling industry scrutiny, according to reports by News Radio 690 KTSM and others.

The fabricated polls impacted key Democratic primary races, including those involving candidates in Michigan and Wisconsin. Some candidates reported harm to their campaigns and fundraising due to misleading poll results, with one noting repeated media calls for her to drop out based on the false data.

Major outlets such as The New York Times and poll aggregators like Political Polls have removed Wedgewood's data from their databases after discovering the deception. The Times said it had tried to verify the firm's methods but was misled by false information provided by Wedgewood.

This incident follows a similar case in August when another firm, Media Strategies, admitted to fabricating data showing far-left candidates leading in various races. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr warned broadcasters that airing fake election polls risks their licenses and called for greater scrutiny, especially with the 2026 general election approaching.

Wedgewood stated the project was not intended to influence election outcomes but to demonstrate how fabricated data can enter mainstream political coverage. Media outlets have since added editor's notes to past articles and removed the firm's surveys from projections.