Fake Polling Scandal Deepens Distrust as Firms Vanish

WHO:

The Washington Post - Wedgwood Polls (also referred to as Wedgewood) said it published fabricated polls in midterm election races.

The Washington Post - FiftyPlusOne, a website founded by former staff of FiveThirtyEight, investigated Wedgewood’s work.

Newsweek - Nate Silver said the fake-poll scandal fuels distrust pushed by Trump.

WHAT:

The Washington Post - Wedgwood Polls said in a since-deleted social media post that it had published fabricated polls, describing the publication as an “experiment.”

The Washington Post - Wedgewood’s announcement followed a request for comment about FiftyPlusOne’s investigation into its work.

Newsweek - Wedgewood Polling surveys were revealed to be fabricated, and several outlets and analysts had used the data.

The Washington Post - The article describes two fake-poll scandals during the year and says a third group had disappeared.

WHY:

The Washington Post - Wedgwood said its experiment was intended to test whether media outlets and poll aggregators would report fabricated polling data.

HOW:

The Washington Post - Wedgwood disclosed the fabricated polls in a social media post that was later deleted.

The Washington Post - FiftyPlusOne’s investigation prompted a request for comment to Wedgewood before its announcement.

Newsweek - Several outlets and analysts used the fabricated survey data.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 02:19 UTC)

Wedgwood Polls has acknowledged publishing fabricated polling data in midterm election races, saying it was an experiment to see whether media outlets and poll aggregators would report the results. The group made the admission in a social media post that was later deleted. Its announcement came after FiftyPlusOne, a website founded by former FiveThirtyEight staff, investigated Wedgwood’s work and sought comment from the polling group. Several news outlets and political analysts had used the fake survey data. Nate Silver said the scandal adds to distrust that President Trump has promoted. The episode is part of a broader pattern: two fake-poll scandals have emerged during the year, while a third group has disappeared. Wedgwood’s disclosure raises questions about how fabricated data can enter political coverage and be treated as legitimate polling.