Fake L.A. Mayoral Poll Raises Questions of Legality and Election Integrity
A bogus opinion poll, published by a group named Median Strategies, falsely indicated Mayor Karen Bass held a significant lead over City Councilmember Nithya Raman in the Los Angeles mayoral race. The results of this fake poll were even promoted by Mayor Bass's account on X. Following inquiries by The Times, Median Strategies admitted the poll was a fabrication, claiming it was a 'social experiment to examine how purported polling information could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem.' This admission has prompted calls for investigation and prosecution from Mayor Bass's campaign spokesperson, who stated that 'bad faith attempts to influence elections should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' The group Median Strategies itself is shrouded in mystery, having only recently purchased its domain name and created a website, with its ownership registered privately. 
