President-elect Donald Trump has taken legal action against the Des Moines Register and renowned pollster J. Ann Selzer following significantly inaccurate polling results released just prior to the 2024 election. The poll, conducted on November 2, indicated Kamala Harris leading Trump by three percentage points, just days before voters went to the polls. The result provoked considerable speculation about Harris's potential victory, particularly as Iowa had gone for Trump by considerable margins in past elections.
Trump’s lawsuit, filed on November 5, 2024, in Polk County, Iowa, claims the polling results were not only misleading but also represent brazen election interference. The complaint argues Selzer and the newspaper intentionally disseminated flawed polling data to create the appearance of support for the Democratic nominee. "Contrary to reality and defying credulity, Defendants’ Harris Poll was published three days before Election Day and purported to show Harris leading President Trump..." Trump stated during the announcement of the lawsuit.
Specifically, the poll suggested Harris had support among senior voters, claiming she led by 19 points within this demographic. Trump’s team pointed out discrepancies, noting he had carried the senior vote convincingly during previous elections against Biden, according to exit polls by CNN. Following the release of the poll, political analysts deemed it alarming for Trump's campaign, with the PredictIt platform reflecting increased betting shares for Harris's chances of winning.
The lawsuit seeks actual damages to compensate Trump for campaign expenditures influenced by the misleading poll, as well as statutory damages tripled and coverage for attorneys' fees. Trump's legal team emphasized the poll’s release was strategically timed to mislead the electorate during the final days of the race, contributing to the narrative of inevitability surrounding Harris’s candidacy.
Harris’s supposed lead was capitalized on by various political commentators, including MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, who lauded Selzer for her polling accuracy. The lawsuit illuminates Trump's encompassing frustration with the media’s portrayal of his candidacy, linking it to what he perceives as corrupt attempts to skew electoral results. Trump argued, "Pollsters such as Selzer...and news organizations such as DMR and Gannett, are responsible for accurately representing the truth of events, not distorting polls..."
Representatives from the Des Moines Register have publicly rebuffed the claims, asserting their commitment to journalistic integrity. Lark-Marie Anton, spokesperson for the Register, asserted, "We have acknowledged the Selzer/Des Moines Register pre-election poll did not reflect the ultimate margin of President Trump’s Election Day victory... We stand by our reporting on the matter and believe this lawsuit is without merit." This reply reflects the broader media’s struggle to balance reporting and the expectations placed upon them during contentious election seasons.
Trump’s legal challenges against the media are not new; he has previously filed suits against several outlets over perceived misrepresentation, including notable cases involving ABC and CBS. His growing list of legal battles emphasizes his commitment to combat what he describes as corruption within the press. On the heels of the Iowa lawsuit, Trump announced during his press conference at Mar-a-Lago his intent to pursue what he termed “major lawsuits” to confront what he sees as unfair treatment by the media. His remarks during the press conference also suggested greater scrutiny toward Harris’s candidacy, criticizing her capabilities and appeal.
While Trump’s lawsuit against the Des Moines Register is significant on its own, it appears to be part of a larger strategy to challenge narrative control by media organizations. The lawsuit invokes the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act, aiming to prevent what Trump’s team describes as deceptive practices influencing the electoral process, particularly as it pertains to polling data validity.
Whether the courts will find merit in Trump's claims remains to be seen. The lawsuit provokes questions about the balance of free speech and the responsibilities of pollsters and media when presenting electoral forecasts. Amidst this legal battle, Trump continues to argue for transparency and integrity within the political process.
With political tension on the rise, this lawsuit is poised to impact not only Trump’s immediate legal strategy but also the broader dialogue about media influence and electoral integrity leading up to the 2024 election.
