Trump scores legal victory in lawsuit against Iowa pollster, Des Moines Register

President Donald Trump scored a legal victory Friday in his lawsuit against The Des Moines Register and Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer.

Last December, Trump sued both in an Iowa state court for having published a poll days ahead of the 2024 presidential election showing then-Vice President Kamala Harris leading in Iowa at the time.

“The lawsuit alleges that the poll, which showed Harris leading Trump among likely Iowa voters 47% to 44%, was published three days before the election as an attempt to ‘create a false narrative of inevitability for Harris in the final week of the 2024 Presidential Election,’” the Nebraska Examiner reported.

“Trump won Iowa with 56% of the vote to Harris’ 43%. The lawsuit alleges that the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll was not merely an inaccurate poll, but was an intentional ‘move with ‘corrupt intent’ to aid Democrats,” the reporting continued.

The Des Moines Register poll is an absolute joke.

They had Trump up EIGHTEEN points over Joe Biden in June. In no world does a swing that large happen in one election cycle. pic.twitter.com/v6DeWDbQWP

— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) November 2, 2024

The lawsuit itself was blistering in its denunciation of both defendants.

“Selzer — who had prided herself on a mainstream reputation for accuracy despite several far less publicized egregious polling misses in favor of Democrats — … would have the public believe it was merely a coincidence that one of the worst polling misses of her career came just days before the most consequential election in memory, was leaked, and happened to go against the Republican candidate,” it read.

“The Harris Poll was no ‘miss’ but rather an attempt to influence the outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election,” the suit continued.

Both Selzer and the Des Moines Register pushed back hard by arguing that Trump’s suit had no merit. Following the filing of the suit, the Register and Selzer filed motions in February demanding that the case be dismissed in federal court.

Two months later, the case was moved to the U.S. District Court in Des Moines, prompting Trump to file a motion demanding it be returned to state court. Then, in May, a federal judge denied Trump’s request, thus keeping the case in federal court. Around this time, Trump refiled his suit in the Iowa state court.

Now fast-forward to Friday, Oct. 24, when the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in Trump’s favor, overturning the May denial and directing the May judge to dismiss the federal case without prejudice so that the case can continue in state court, where Trump has argued it always belonged.

Win for President Trump today in his lawsuit against the Des Moines Register. President Trump sought to dismiss his suit–but the district court said no. The Eighth Circuit issued an extraordinary writ to authorize dismissal. Judge Kobes dissents. Kudos @AlanOstergren! pic.twitter.com/6y1dCOzvCT

— Eric W. (@EWess92) October 24, 2025

The president’s legal team was pleased.

“Today’s just and appropriate ruling by the 8th Circuit ensures that President Trump’s powerhouse case focused on the fake election interfering polls conducted and denominated by J. Ann Selzer, The Des Moines Register and its corporate owner Gannett will be litigated in Iowa State Court where it belongs,” a spokesperson told Fox News.

“These defendants have repeatedly engaged in unlawful gamesmanship to avoid State Court, and that ends today. President Trump will continue to hold those who traffic in fake news, lies and smears to account,” they added.

Selzer’s attorney, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) chief counsel Bob Corn-Revere, wasn’t as pleased.

“The 8th Circuit ruling was focused entirely on a technical point of civil procedure and said nothing about the merits of the case,” he said. “This case is every bit as frivolous today as it was yesterday, and that fact will be borne out in whatever forum it is finally resolved.”

Meanwhile, The Des Moines Register issued a statement doubling down on its conviction that the case belongs in federal court.

“Given the nature of the case and that it involves the president of the United States as a plaintiff, we continue to believe the federal courts are the most appropriate forum for this lawsuit,” a spokesperson said. “In the event the suit is heard by the state courts of Iowa, we have confidence the matter will be adjudicated fairly.”

Senior Staff Writer
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.

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