Wedgewood Polls admits its 2026 election polling data was fabricated
Wedgewood Polls, a self-described polling firm, admitted on social media that its 2026 election-cycle polling data was fabricated, claiming it was a 'social experiment' to expose weaknesses in the polling industry. Its polls were cited by aggregators including FiftyPlusOne, Decision Desk HQ, and the New York Times, and at least two Democratic candidates referenced the data. The revelation prompted scrutiny of how the fabricated numbers entered polling averages in races including Michigan and Mississippi.
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Divergence score
This event sits in the top 19% of divergence this week. 9 outlets covered it, splitting into 8 framing camps across 2 bias groups.
8 camps
2 bias groups
The spectrum · how 9 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
Washington Examiner
Daily Wire
Breitbart
Politico
PBS NewsHour
Newsmax
The Hill
Washington Times
National Review
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
Washington Examiner
Democrats grapple with fallout from fake Wedgewood polls
Democratic fallout and alleged fraud · negative
Politico
How a fake pollster may have moved some 2026 elections - Politico
Electoral impact analysis · neutral
First to report
- Washington Timesfirst
- Breitbart+12 min
- Daily Wire+1.2 h
- National Review+2.8 h
- PBS NewsHour+8.0 h
- Washington Examiner+18.2 h
- The Hill+22.4 h
- Politico+23.2 h
- Newsmax+25.4 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
Headlines that changed · the same article, re-listed with a new headline
PBS NewsHour · 2026-10-22 18:20 UTC
A company says its polls were fake. Here's what happened - PBS
The split, in one line
Right-leaning outlets frame it as fraud that skewed races toward Democrats; centrist and wire coverage frames it as a vetting failure in the polling industry. The partisan motive is asserted, not established.
How each outlet covered it
Only the right is covering this
One side of the spectrum has stayed silent. That absence is itself a signal.
0
LEFT OUTLETS
0 of 9 outlets covering this story sit on that side of the spectrum.
0LEFT OUTLETS
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“How a fake pollster may have moved some 2026 elections - Politico” · Politico, PBS NewsHour, The Hill
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 9 outlets put it
CENTER3
PPolitico How a fake pollster may have moved some 2026 elections - Politico 2d ago PBSPBS NewsHour An alleged national pollster says it faked its data as a 'social experiment.' Here's what to know - PBS 3d ago HThe Hill Fake polls send shockwaves through the political world ahead of midterms 2d ago RIGHT6
WEWashington Examiner Democrats grapple with fallout from fake Wedgewood polls 3d ago DWDaily Wire The Midterm Polling Scandal That Could Change Everything 3d ago BBreitbart Polling Firm Admits to Fake Data, Says It Was 'Social Experiment' 3d ago NMNewsmax How a Fake Pollster May Have Moved Some 2026 Elections - Newsmax 2d ago WTWashington Times Bogus polling firm admits numbers are fraudulent, claims 'experimental project' 3d ago NRNational Review The Wedgewood Fake Polls Scandal 3d ago 5 tracked claims across 9 outlets
Fact ledger
All5Claimed2Corroborated3
3/9
Claimed
Wedgewood's fabricated data was designed to favor Democrats and progressive candidates
Corroborated
Disputed
4 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger