Fact Check: Viral 'Leaked Poll' Claims LA Mayor Race Is a 3-Way Tie — Here's What's Real
A screenshot claiming to show a leaked internal poll from the LA mayor race is spreading like wildfire on X and TikTok, alleging that the contest is now a statistical dead heat between three candidates. The image purports to show Karen Bass, Rick Caruso, and a third candidate—often misidentified as a late write-in—each at 31%. But is this real? Fact-checkers at multiple outlets, including PolitiFact and local LA news, have confirmed this is fake. The fabricated poll appears to be pulled from a mockup generator, and no legitimate polling firm, including the LA Times/SurveyUSA or UC Berkeley IGS, has published such results. In fact, the latest verified surveys for the la mayor race polls show Bass with a narrow lead over Caruso, with no third candidate breaking double digits. The viral graphic also misuses outdated data from the 2022 primary, not the current general election. So, if you see this post, don't reshare—it's a hoax designed to sow confusion ahead of election day.