In a significant legal development, Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks and former State Senator Brad Zaun have aligned with President Donald Trump in a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and its former pollster, J. Ann Selzer. The lawsuit alleges that a pre-election poll conducted by Selzer and published by the Register constituted “brazen election interference” by presenting misleading data favoring Democratic candidates.
The contentious poll, released on November 2, 2024, indicated that Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris held a three-point lead over Trump in Iowa. Additionally, it suggested that Miller-Meeks’ opponent was ahead by 16 points in the 1st Congressional District race. Contrary to these projections, Trump secured Iowa by over 13 points, and Miller-Meeks won her race by approximately 800 votes.
The plaintiffs argue that the poll was deliberately manipulated to influence voter perceptions and outcomes, asserting that it was “leaked and manipulated” to favor Democratic candidates. They claim that the poll’s release was timed for maximum political impact, aiming to damage Republican prospects in the election.
The lawsuit, initially filed in Polk County District Court, has been moved to federal court. It seeks unspecified damages and aims to prevent future instances of alleged poll manipulation. The legal action also targets Selzer’s polling firm, Selzer & Company, and the Register‘s parent company, Gannett, citing violations of the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act.
In response, the Des Moines Register has defended its polling practices, stating that it stands by the integrity of its reporting and the methodology employed by Selzer. The publication has released the poll’s full demographics, crosstabs, and methodology to support its transparency. Selzer, who announced her retirement from election polling shortly after the 2024 election, has not publicly commented on the lawsuit.
This legal action underscores the escalating tensions between political figures and media organizations concerning the influence of pre-election polling on electoral outcomes. It also highlights the challenges pollsters face in ensuring accuracy and maintaining public trust in an increasingly polarized environment.
