Overview
- Wedgewood Polls acknowledged that most of its published survey results were invented and its website and social accounts were taken offline after the admission.
- Major outlets and aggregators removed the firm's entries, with the New York Times deleting 15 polls and Decision Desk HQ removing 17 while saying those deletions did not alter its overall seat projections.
- Affected Democrats say the fake numbers had real effects, with candidates reporting lost donations, press pressure and damaged volunteer morale tied to specific Wedgewood polls.
- Industry groups and regulators warned that easy online publication and advancing AI make it simpler to create and spread fabricated polls, and the FCC chair flagged a rise in such deceptive surveys.
- This episode follows an August admission by another firm, Median Strategies, and highlights ongoing gaps in verification and enforcement that could let bad actors influence campaigns before the Nov. 3 Midterms.