Iowa Pollster Faces Legal Battle Over Controversial Election Survey

Veteran pollster J. Ann Selzer and the Des Moines Register are accused of misleading reporting, sparking lawsuits from Trump and a public interest group.

J. Ann Selzer and her polling firm are being sued by President-elect Trump and the American Rights (CAR) over a poll that inaccurately predicted Kamala Harris leading Trump in Iowa before the 2024 election.
Trump’s lawsuit alleges intentional deception under Iowa’s Consumer Fraud Act, claiming the poll aimed to create a false narrative of Harris's electoral strength.
CAR has filed a separate class-action lawsuit on behalf of Des Moines Register subscribers, claiming the poll misled consumers and damaged public trust in the electoral process.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is defending Selzer, arguing the lawsuits violate First Amendment protections for political speech and predictive journalism.
Critics of the lawsuits argue that the poll, while significantly inaccurate, does not constitute fraud or intentional wrongdoing, as polling inherently involves uncertainty and predictive judgment.