Fake L.A. Mayor Poll Roils Industry as Karen Bass Amplifies Bogus Lead
Updated
Updated · Los Angeles Times · Aug 18
Fake L.A. Mayor Poll Roils Industry as Karen Bass Amplifies Bogus Lead
3 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · Aug 18
Summary
Median Strategies told the Los Angeles Times its poll showing Mayor Karen Bass with a wide lead over Nithya Raman was fake after Bass promoted it last week.
Experts said outright fake polls are rare, but the episode lands as recent primaries in Michigan and Wisconsin exposed how badly low-quality surveys can miss turnout and final results.
Open primaries and harder voter contact have made election polling less reliable, while cheaper online and opt-in methods have lowered barriers to entry and widened quality gaps.
A 2024 Pew report found opt-in surveys badly misread some groups — including a result claiming 12% of adults under 30 were licensed to operate a nuclear submarine.
Pollsters said transparent methods and proven track records matter because bad polling can mislead voters, boost fundraising and create a bandwagon effect in elections.