Polling Scandal

Episode summary

Reports say a company called Wedgewood Polling put out fake data about voter intentions in key states, and its numbers were cited by major outlets. Now Wedgewood is calling it an “experiment,” and we’re not buying it. Polls can shape elections by convincing people their side has already lost, and that’s exactly why they can’t be trusted to tell the whole story. In North Carolina, many races are within the margin of error, but Democrats currently lead in turnout nearly 2 to 1. The only poll that counts is Election Day.

What you’ll learn / Key moments

• 00:00 – Hook: Stop trusting the polls
• 00:09 – Wedgewood Polling and the fake voter data
• 00:51 – The “it was an experiment” excuse
• 01:23 – How polls can keep voters home
• 02:04 – Election Day is the only poll that counts

What you can do
Don’t let a poll decide whether you show up. Make a plan to vote, whether that’s early voting or Election Day, and check your county board of elections for your options and locations. Then ask a few friends, family members, or neighbors who share your values if they have a plan too. Turnout is the number that matters this year. Share this episode with someone who might be tempted to stay home.

Stop trusting the polls. Just get out and vote.

This is the Wilmington Standard Daily Update for Thursday, October 22, 2026.

The Daily Wire, the New York Times, and others are reporting that a company called Wedgewood Polling used fake data about voter intentions in this upcoming election. Quoting from FiftyPlusOne – a polling aggregation firm:

Wedgewood operated as if it were a legitimate polling firm, including collecting money from donors to conduct crowd-funded polls, and sharing raw survey data.

Wedgewood operated in multiple states including Michigan, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas and Maine.  According to the Daily Wire:

The New York Times did cite Wedgewood 15 times between June and October. It was cited by Decision Desk 17 times in that same period.

In an attempt to cover themselves, Wedgewood admitted:

that it was all fake; they’re claiming it was an experiment. They now claim they made up all these fraudulent polls to expose how bad the polling industry is.

We do not believe them.  Social experiments are one thing.  This rises to a whole new level of fraud and manipulating our elections.  Additionally, all of their “data” – with big quotes around it – naturally skewed to favor the liberal left – which should surprise no one. 

Polls can affect elections.  People naturally want to be associated with winners – and not associated with lost causes.  If polling data shows that a certain candidate is down by insurmountable numbers, odds are people who would naturally vote for that person would stay home.  Why take time out for a losing cause?

The polls – and the press - say the Republicans will take a drubbing this year.  Yet most of the polls – the good ones at least – show most races well within the margin of error.  In other words, this election season is a dead heat for most candidates.

The reality is that the only poll that counts is election day.  Numbers here in North Carolina show that Republicans actually can win this thing – if they just show up to vote – and vote Republican.

Currently, Democrats lead Republicans in voter turnout nearly 2 to 1. 

For the Wilmington Standard, I’m Reuel Sample.  Thanks for listening.