(DailyVantage.com) – President-elect Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and its pollster J. Ann Selzer, alleging “brazen election interference” and fraud regarding the publication’s final Iowa presidential poll, which inaccurately predicted a narrow victory for Vice President Kamala Harris. The suit, filed Monday in Polk County, Iowa, under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act, also names the newspaper’s parent company, Gannett, as a defendant.
The lawsuit stems from the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll released on November 2, 2024, just three days before the election. That poll claimed Harris held a three-point lead over Trump in Iowa, a state the president-elect ultimately won by a decisive margin of more than 13 percentage points. Trump’s legal team alleges that the poll was intentionally manipulated to influence voter sentiment and media narratives in favor of Harris.
The suit describes the poll results as “election-interfering fiction,” arguing that the shift it suggested—a seven-point swing toward Harris from September’s poll—was both unprecedented and statistically implausible. Trump’s attorneys contend that the poll defied the political reality in “deep-red Iowa” and harmed public confidence in the election process.
Selzer’s polls have historically been regarded as highly accurate, earning her national recognition in previous election cycles. However, Trump’s legal team argues that the 2024 poll was an outlier, citing the final election results as evidence of gross inaccuracy or deliberate misconduct.
“This is not just about a flawed poll; this is about accountability for blatant manipulation designed to mislead voters and suppress Republican turnout,” said a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team.
The lawsuit also takes aim at the Des Moines Register and Gannett, accusing them of amplifying the poll’s findings to influence media coverage and voter perception. The suit seeks damages and a public acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
J. Ann Selzer, who announced her retirement from election polling after the election, defended her methods in a prior statement, maintaining that the poll followed rigorous statistical practices. However, Trump’s attorneys argue that even if unintentional, the poll’s publication constituted election interference under Iowa law.
Media commentators have weighed in, noting the case could have far-reaching implications for polling practices and media accountability. Critics of Trump’s lawsuit argue it risks chilling free speech and legitimate polling activities, while supporters say it highlights the influence polling can have on elections.
The Des Moines Register and Gannett have yet to release an official response.
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