Wedgewood Polling admitted on Tuesday that it released fabricated survey data for an experimental project designed to expose weaknesses in the political polling industry. The firm, which billed itself as an election survey company, stated the numbers were created to demonstrate the low barrier to entry and lack of oversight in modern polling. The admission follows a period where Wedgewood's data was cited by major media outlets and campaigns in competitive primary elections.
The fabricated polls included projections for the Michigan Senate race, where they were cited by the campaign of Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed, a former public health official, advanced from the Democratic primary and is now competing against former House Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., for the open Senate seat. Wedgewood data also appeared in the Wisconsin gubernatorial race, showing socialist candidate Francesca Hong with an edge over Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis. Hong lost that primary to the establishment-backed candidate.
Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who ran against El-Sayed in the Democratic primary, said Wedgewood's numbers caused her donations to dry up. She stated that reporters hounded her with calls to drop out of the race after the polls were published. Democrat strategist Jennifer Holdsworth, who ran a super PAC for McMorrow, said donors pulled back funding based on the poll at a time when her campaign was outspent by $80 million.
Major news organizations have removed the fraudulent data from their projections. The New York Times said it removed 15 polls released by Wedgewood between June and October. The newspaper noted that Wedgewood had answered questions regarding pollster identities, sampling methods, and funding sources during its vetting process. Decision Desk HQ removed 17 Wedgewood polls but stated that this action did not change its projected seat totals or chamber control probabilities for the Senate or House.
Mike Nellis, a veteran Democratic strategist and former advisor to Kamala Harris, condemned the firm in a statement to Fox News Digital. He called the individuals involved absolute scumbags and argued that they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Nellis said that both parties and the media need to reflect on how polling is verified because others may be committing similar fraud.
Independent outlet FiftyPlusOne said it was investigating Wedgewood before the firm released its statement. Co-founder G. Elliott Morris wrote on X that he was investigating the firm for faking data and had emailed them for comment before they issued their explanation. Morris described the firm's admission as an attempt to cover up fraud with a social experiment excuse. Former Obama staffer Tommy Vietor also described Wedgewood's actions as lying and fraud.
Wedgewood Polling's statement maintained that the project was never intended to sway an election but served as a wake-up call about data integrity. A group called Wedgewood Polls had previously used a GoFundMe to raise money for polling in Nebraska's gubernatorial and Senate races, raising $500 of its $5,000 goal. Nellis questioned whether the firm would return that crowdfunded money or face prosecution. Other Wedgewood surveys showed Democrats with significant edges over Republicans in states like Texas, including a July poll showing James Talarico leading Ken Paxton among Hispanics by 64% to 30%.