Wedgewood Polls Admits Fabricating 2026 Election Data
Wedgewood Polls admitted to fabricating election data as a social experiment, impacting several Democratic primaries and deceiving major media outlets and poll aggregators.
The fraudulent polling firm Wedgewood Polls admitted on October 20, 2026, that it fabricated the vast majority of its survey data throughout the election cycle. The firm characterized the operation as a social experiment and a wake-up call intended to expose a systemic lack of vetting and oversight within the political polling industry. Only one legitimate crowdfunded poll in Nebraska was conducted to serve as an internal baseline.
The fraudulent data was integrated into trackers and averages by The New York Times, FiftyPlusOne, VoteHub, and Decision Desk HQ, and cited by media outlets including Newsweek, Breitbart, and MS NOW. The New York Times acknowledged including 15 fraudulent polls in its tracker, while Decision Desk HQ included at least 17. The New York Times stated it attempted to verify the firm's identity but relied on false information provided by Wedgewood.
The deception had tangible effects on political campaigns. Former Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow reported that fake numbers showing her support plummeting damaged volunteer morale, dried up donations, and led reporters to pressure her to exit the race. Other affected races included Democratic primaries in Wisconsin and Michigan involving candidates Francesca Hong and Abdul El-Sayed.
While Wedgewood claimed the project was a whistleblower effort, G. Elliott Morris of FiftyPlusOne dismissed the social experiment narrative as an excuse, stating the admission only came after researchers confronted the firm with evidence of discrepancies. Democratic strategist Mike Nellis condemned the actions as fraud, while some Republicans characterized the effort as a coordinated attempt to demoralize conservative voters.
