Wedgewood Polls announced on Tuesday that it had fabricated data used in its election surveys throughout the 2026 cycle. The admission was posted on social media following an investigation by the polling and election analysis site FiftyPlusOne, which had contacted the firm regarding their findings.

In its statement, the firm characterized the fabrication as a "social experiment" or a "wake-up call" designed to expose vulnerabilities and a lack of scrutiny within the polling industry. While both Breitbart and The Guardian report the admission, they differ in their framing of the firm's stated motivation. Breitbart frames the admission as a direct attempt to "spark reform," whereas The Guardian emphasizes that the admission followed an external investigation by a third party, suggesting the firm may have been pressured into the disclosure.

The impact of these fabricated surveys is notable, as The Guardian reports that the fake data had been picked up and cited by national media outlets in the United States. Breitbart’s coverage focuses primarily on the firm's own stated intent behind the deception, while The Guardian provides additional context regarding the role of FiftyPlusOne in uncovering the practice. Neither source has provided details on which specific media outlets published the false data or the extent of the influence these polls had on public perception during the 2026 election cycle.