Polling Firm Released Fake Data in Hong and Bass Races as a ‘Social Experiment’

Median Strategies revealed that recent polls from the firm were intended to expose how easily false results can be spread.

Median Strategies said it was established as ‘a short-term social experiment’

August 18, 2026 12:08 PM ET A polling company that showed former Democratic Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong leading by over 20 points admitted to faking polls, then shut down Monday.Median Strategies announced that its data was a “short-term social experiment” after releasing several polls related to t

A fake polling firm that drew headlines for a poll showing Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in the lead in her mayoral primary was also behind a poll showing Francesca Hong far ahead in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in Wisconsin. In the days before the Wisconsin gubernatorial Democratic primary, a viral poll from a

A fake polling firm projecting Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Wisconsin Democrat socialist gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong with leads over their opponents admits these were fake polls as part of a "short-term social experiment."

A poll released earlier this month claiming Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass had a wide lead over Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman in the city’s mayoral race was bogus, according to the company that released it. Median Strategies on Monday said in its announcement about the mayoral race poll that it has stopped