Recent college graduate identified as creator of phony L.A. mayor's race poll
- Posted on August 21, 2026
- By Los Angeles Times
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- 1 min read
A recent college graduate named Rahil Prakash has been identified as the person behind a fraudulent poll regarding the Los Angeles mayoral election. Operating under the fictitious research firm Median Strategies, Prakash distributed misleading survey data that falsely portrayed candidate Karen Bass as maintaining a commanding lead in the race. This incident highlights growing concerns about poll manipulation and misinformation in electoral processes, raising questions about verification standards in political reporting and the ease with which fabricated data can circulate through media channels.
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