Polling Firm Says Data In Closely Watched DSA Race Was ‘Social Experiment,’ Then Shuts Down

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."