Fake Poll Boosting Karen Bass Exposed as Social Experiment
A viral poll that showed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass leading her challenger by nearly 12 points was nothing more than a social experiment designed to test how unverified information spreads through the political ecosystem, the company behind it admitted this week.
The bogus survey, attributed to a firm called Median Strategies, had Bass ahead of City Council member Nithya Raman ahead of the Nov. 3 runoff election. The poll claimed to be based on responses from 560 Los Angeles voters and carried a margin of error of 4.1 percent. Bass supporters celebrated the numbers, but the celebration was short-lived.
In response to inquiries from the Los Angeles Times, the company revealed the poll was fabricated.
Median Strategies was created as a short term social experiment to examine how purported polling information could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem without independent verification, the company said in a statement.
The company declined further comment and said it was not seeking publicity.
Bass Campaign Demands Investigation
The Bass campaign is now calling for prosecutors to investigate the fake poll and the outlets that reported it as legitimate news.
This poll was reported on by multiple news outlets. Any bad faith attempts to influence elections should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, the campaign said in a statement.
Legal experts note that the experiment, while deceptive, may not rise to the level of a prosecutable offense. Still, the episode underscores growing concerns about the reliability of polling data in an era of viral misinformation.
Iowa Connection: A Familiar Pattern
For Iowa voters, this incident carries a familiar ring. During the 2024 presidential race, a widely circulated poll suggested Kamala Harris was leading in Iowa, a state President Donald Trump went on to win by 13 points.
That poll, like the Los Angeles experiment, generated significant media attention before being proven wildly inaccurate on Election Day.
The lesson for voters is consistent: individual polls should be viewed with skepticism, and trends and averages offer a more reliable picture of the race.
What the Real Numbers Say in Los Angeles
Genuine polling conducted before the primary showed Bass finishing first by roughly five points. The runoff outcome will likely hinge on the 25.5 percent of voters who backed Spencer Pratt in the primary.
Political observers question whether Pratt supporters will break for Bass or Raman, whose affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America may alienate more moderate voters. Despite her administration's struggles, Bass may still secure reelection.
Why Polling Skepticism Matters
Polls remain a popular tool for tracking campaigns and gauging public sentiment, but this episode serves as a cautionary tale. The only poll that truly matters is the one conducted on Election Day.
For now, the fake poll experiment achieved its goal: demonstrating how easily unverified information can spread through the modern media landscape, and how quickly campaigns and outlets alike can be fooled.
John Damon is a contributor to Just The News Iowa.