‘Gold-Standard’ Pollster Who Overlooked Trump Win In Iowa Calls It Quits
Pollster J. Ann Selzer announced over the weekend that she would be stepping away from election polling after her survey in Iowa, which had been widely regarded as a “gold-standard” poll in political forecasting, fumbled the 2024 presidential election.
“Over a year ago I advised the Register I would not renew when my 2024 contract expired with the latest election poll as I transition to other ventures and opportunities,” Selzer wrote in a guest column published on Sunday by the Des Moines Register.
“Would I have liked to make this announcement after a final poll aligned with Election Day results? Of course,” she added. “It’s ironic that it’s just the opposite.”
Selzer & Company’s final poll of the 2024 election cycle for the Register and Mediacom found Vice President Kamala Harris leading President-elect Donald Trump 47% to 44% among likely voters in Iowa, while other surveys conducted in the final stretch of the 2024 campaign showed Trump ahead of Harris. Ultimately, Trump defeated Harris 56% to 42.7% in Iowa, marking his third general election victory in the Hawkeye State in a row.
Trump’s campaign released a statement mocking Selzer after it became clear that Trump would beat Harris in Iowa. (Read more from “‘Gold-Standard’ Pollster Who Overlooked Trump Win In Iowa Calls It Quits” HERE)
Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr
