A pollster ran fake numbers in Michigan’s Senate primary. What damage did it do?

Key Points:

• A fake polling firm, Wedgewood Polls, admitted to fabricating survey numbers in multiple races, including Michigan’s U.S. Senate primary, which contributed to candidate Mallory McMorrow dropping out of the Democratic primary due to damaged campaign support and credibility.
• Wedgewood’s fabricated polls gained credibility quickly, being included in major polling aggregators, exposing a lack of scrutiny in media and public commentary on polling validity, prompting removal of their surveys from outlets like The New York Times.
• Political analysts caution that while it’s difficult to isolate the impact of the fake polls on McMorrow’s withdrawal, such misinformation can harm a campaign’s perceived viability and contribute to broader public distrust in election polling.
• The incident highlights ongoing issues with polling reliability and public skepticism, amplified by past polling errors and the complex nature of polling science, leading experts to advise skepticism toward polls lacking transparent methodology or credible backing.
• The Federal Communications Commission has expressed concern over the rise of fake polls and their amplification by media, emphasizing the need for accountability among pollsters and broadcasters to prevent the spread of misinformation.