Polling firm Wedgewood admits fabricating election data; candidates say the fake numbers hurt campaigns
Photo: Straight Arrow NewsWedgewood Polls, a political polling firm, admitted it fabricated its election survey results, saying in an online statement that it made up the numbers to see whether anyone would notice. Its data was entered into tracking systems at The New York Times, VoteHub and FiftyPlusOne. Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow ended her U.S. Senate campaign on July 5 after a fake June poll showed her support in single digits, according to one report, which said donations stopped and volunteers panicked afterward. Some other candidates also say the invented numbers ended their campaigns. Analysts at FiftyPlusOne exposed the fraud on Oct. 20. Before the admission, a person behind the firm had invited reporters to ask it questions about its work.
The right-leaning Washington Examiner leads with the consequences, centering McMorrow's exit and arguing that polling sites' defenses come too late. Left-leaning Politico emphasizes candidates who say the faked numbers killed their campaigns, while saying the polls may have moved races. Straight Arrow News, an alternative outlet, focuses on the firm's earlier public invitation to scrutiny. All three agree the firm admitted fabricating its data.
How the sides differ Right sources stress concrete damage, led by McMorrow's exit, and criticize polling sites; left sources report candidates' claims of harm; alternative sources focus on the firm's earlier invitation to scrutiny.
Headline, comparison and summary written by AI from the articles below. AI can make mistakes, so check the original articles before relying on a detail.
Politico leads with the admission and with candidates who say the fabricated numbers ended their campaigns, describing the effect on 2026 races as possible.
Straight Arrow News highlights that, before admitting the fabrication, a person behind the firm invited reporters to ask questions and scrutinize its work.
The Washington Examiner opinion piece leads with McMorrow's exit and the damage from the fake poll, and rejects polling sites' defenses, saying the Oct. 20 discovery came too late.