{"id":2646223,"date":"2026-08-17T20:19:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T00:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/karen-bass-touted-fake-poll-that-showed-big-lead-in-la-mayoral-race-firm-says\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T20:22:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T00:22:31","slug":"karen-bass-touted-fake-poll-that-showed-big-lead-in-la-mayoral-race-firm-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/karen-bass-touted-fake-poll-that-showed-big-lead-in-la-mayoral-race-firm-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Karen Bass touted fake poll that showed big lead in LA mayoral race, firm says"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkaren-bass-touted-fake-poll-that-showed-big-lead-in-la-mayoral-race-firm-says%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2646223&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A poll claiming Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was leading in the mayoral race with 50% support was revealed to be entirely fabricated as part of a social experiment by a fake polling company called Median Strategies. The company withdrew all previous polling releases and clarified that the survey was created to study how false polling data can spread without verification. Bass, who initially shared the poll, has since deleted her post. The fake survey appeared to be a genuine poll, including methodology and margin of error, polling 560 voters between July 30 and August 5. The incident highlights concerns about misinformation in political campaigns, and bass\u2019s supporters called for investigations into anyone attempting to influence elections dishonestly. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >broader political context involves ongoing competition<\/a> in the Los Angeles mayoral race, which is expected to be close.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company behind a poll that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/los-angeles\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1221\">Los Angeles<\/a> Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/karen-bass\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2491\">Karen Bass<\/a> touted as showing her with a double-digit lead in the mayoral race said the survey was entirely fake and part of a social experiment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last week, Bass made a post on X showing a poll putting her at 50% and her rival Nithya Raman at just 39%.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4690625\/karen-bass-fake-poll-la-mayor-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Karen Bass touted fake poll that showed big lead in LA mayoral race, firm says<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4689698\/tom-tiffany-david-crowley-wisconsin-state-fair-chaos-milwaukee-county-wisconsin\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Tiffany blames Crowley for Wisconsin state fair \u2018chaos\u2019 after teenagers brawl<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4689463\/florida-gop-candidates-struggle-desantis-endorsement-gubernatorial-primary\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Florida GOP candidates struggle to win DeSantis\u2019s endorsement before gubernatorial primary<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDoing the work, showing up, and gaining momentum. Let\u2019s do this, LA!\u201d her post said, with a picture of the poll results.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was only one problem: The poll was entirely made up and posted as part of a self-admitted \u201csocial experiment\u201d from a fake polling company.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAll previously published polling releases have been withdrawn and should not be cited or treated as genuine polling data,\u201d Median Strategies said in its press release, which was sent in response to repeated inquiries from the <em>Los Angeles Times<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMedian Strategies was created as a short-term social experiment examining how purported polling information could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem without independent verification,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bass has since deleted her post extolling the poll.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The poll itself had all the markings of a genuine survey, even providing a methodology, margin of error, and a detailed breakdown. It claimed to have polled 560 Los Angeles voters between July 30 and Aug. 5, and had a 4.1% margin of error.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFaced with a choice between the incumbent and a Democratic Socialists of America-aligned challenger, most Pratt voters appear to be treating Bass as the more familiar, more moderate option rather than sitting out the race,\u201d Median wrote in an analysis viewed by the <em>Los Angeles Times<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A spokesperson for Bass defended the mayor to the <em>California Post<\/em>, noting that the survey had been \u201creported on by multiple news outlets,\u201d then called for those behind it to be prosecuted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAny bad faith attempts to influence elections should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,\u201d they told the outlet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bass was far from the only person or group duped by the phony poll. Rick Taylor, a veteran political consultant, told the <em>California Post<\/em> that the poll was shared among political operatives, and there was \u201cno reason for anyone to have doubted it.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4679495\/airbnb-karen-bass-pay-to-play-la-rental-policy\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4679495\">AIRBNB\u2019S $750,000 TO KAREN BASS FUELS PAY-TO-PLAY CLAIMS OVER LA RENTAL POLICY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhoever is responsible for this ought to be exposed, and we need to make sure this never happens again,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Actual polling in the race is scarce, but most analysts believe the Nov. 3 runoff election will be competitive.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fake poll claimed as social experiment, says firm<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2646224,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/karenbass-e1781122470262.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[43593,37600,48133,65146,83208],"class_list":["post-2646223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-election-controversy","tag-fake-poll","tag-karen-bass","tag-la-mayoral-race","tag-political-deception"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/karenbass-e1781122470262.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2646223"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646223\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2646227,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646223\/revisions\/2646227"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2646224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2646223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2646223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2646223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}