Democrats are expressing outrage following an admission from a polling firm, Wedgewood Polling, which claimed to have fabricated data. The firm, which presented itself as a legitimate election survey company, acknowledged on Tuesday evening that it had created “fabricated numbers” as part of an “experimental project” aimed at highlighting weaknesses and a lack of oversight in political polling.
The firm’s polls were referenced by Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign during a competitive primary race against Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow and Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich. Furthermore, a nonpartisan polling aggregator, Political Polls, included Wedgewood’s data in analyses for the Wisconsin gubernatorial race, suggesting socialist Francesca Hong was leading over Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany.
McMorrow pointed out that Wedgewood’s findings had a tangible impact on her campaign, resulting in dwindling donations and relentless pressure from the media to withdraw from the race.
“A point was made, yes—polling is flawed. But countless individuals invested their hearts, time, and money into a cause they believed in, only for it to feel like just a game,” she expressed on X. “With trust already at a low, moving forward requires rebuilding it—especially for media, which tends to sensationalize polling drama.”
Unlike El-Sayed, who advanced in the Democratic Senate primary, Hong ended up losing her primary to a more establishment-backed candidate. El-Sayed is currently engaged in a closely contested battle for Michigan’s open Senate seat against former Congressman Mike Rogers, R-Mich.
Jennifer Holdsworth, a strategist for the Democrat Party, shared that she managed a super PAC supporting McMorrow and stated that this polling significantly influenced donors’ decisions to scale back financial support when they were already facing an $80 million funding disadvantage.
Wedgewood’s unreliable data had been cited by prominent publications such as The New York Times and Decision Desk HQ, both of which have since removed the polls from their estimates. The Times specifically mentioned withdrawing 15 polls released by Wedgewood between June and October after the firm owned up to data fabrication.
Decision Desk HQ indicated that it eliminated 17 of Wedgewood’s polls from its calculations but noted that this change did not affect the overall projections for Senate or House seat totals.
Despite Wedgewood’s claims that the intention behind their actions was not to influence elections but rather to raise awareness about data integrity, prominent political figures expressed their dismay. Mike Nellis, a seasoned Democratic strategist, described the group as “absolute scumbags” and called for accountability, saying they should be driven out of politics and face legal repercussions. He stressed the need for both parties and the media to reevaluate how polling integrity is maintained to prevent similar situations.
Independent outlet FiftyPlusOne revealed it was investigating Wedgewood just as the firm issued its statement. Co-founder G. Elliott Morris stated on X that they had been looking into the firm for possible data falsification.
Former Obama staffer Tommy Vietor echoed criticism of Wedgewood, labeling its practices as outright deception. Wedgewood had also attempted crowdfunding for polling projects in Nebraska, raising only a fraction of its stated goal.
Other Wedgewood polls indicated Democratic candidates had significant advantages in places like Texas, with one poll suggesting James Talarico was leading state Attorney General Ken Paxton significantly among Hispanic voters.
Doubts about poll integrity have been rampant, especially from Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, particularly in relation to past polling failures, such as those predicting Hillary Clinton’s lead over Trump in 2016.
As the upcoming fight for Congressional control intensifies, every poll and piece of data is likely to face intense scrutiny.
