A fabricated poll claiming Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass held a wide lead over Councilmember Nithya Raman in the upcoming mayoral runoff was not conducted as reported, the company behind it acknowledged Monday.
The fake survey by Median Strategies showed Bass leading Raman by nearly 12 percentage points and claimed results were based on a survey of 560 Los Angeles voters between July 30 and Aug. 5 with a stated margin of error of 4.1 percent. The poll had circulated ahead of the Nov. 3 mayoral runoff election.
What the Right Is Saying
Raman's campaign pointed to the false polling as evidence of attempts to manipulate voter perceptions. Her communications director stated that supporters should rely on credible polling organizations and official election results rather than anonymous or unverifiable surveys. Conservative election observers noted that fake polls can depress turnout among opponents' supporters if they believe a race is already decided.
What the Left Is Saying
Bass's office has not issued a public statement regarding the fake poll. Election integrity advocates from groups like Common Cause California called the incident a reminder of how misinformation can distort local elections. 'Voters deserve accurate information, especially in high-stakes municipal races where turnout is typically low,' said a spokesperson for the good government group.
What the Numbers Show
The fabricated poll claimed 560 respondents with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percent, which would be standard for a survey of that size. Legitimate pollsters verify methodology and often publish detailed sampling information. The actual Los Angeles mayoral race has no public partisan dimension—both candidates are Democrats—making the source of the fabricated polling unclear.
The Bottom Line
The acknowledgment from Median Strategies that its poll was bogus raises questions about who created it and their intent. Election officials in Los Angeles have not announced any investigation into the matter. Voters should verify polls against reputable sources, including academic surveys and official election data.