Story perspectives

Judge Dismisses Trump’s Suit Over Selzer Iowa Poll

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 2:30 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer was dismissed by Judge Scott Beattie.
On September 23, 2026, Judge Beattie rejected Trump’s claim that the October 2024 poll violated Iowa’s Consumer Fraud Act.
The poll showed Kamala Harris at 47% and Trump at 44% among likely Iowa voters.
Trump won Iowa with 56% of nearly two million votes.

History

Historical Context

The 2000 presidential dispute ended when the U.S. Supreme Court halted Florida’s recount in Bush v. Gore, a 5-4 ruling that fixed George W. Bush’s victory by a 537-vote margin. In September 2026, Judge Scott Beattie dismissed Donald Trump’s post-election lawsuit under the Consumer Fraud Act, echoing the earlier decision that courts may curtail partisan challenges to protect electoral integrity.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer was dismissed by Judge Scott Beattie.
On September 23, 2026, Judge Beattie rejected Trump’s claim that the October 2024 poll violated Iowa’s Consumer Fraud Act.
The poll showed Kamala Harris at 47% and Trump at 44% among likely Iowa voters.
Trump won Iowa with 56% of nearly two million votes.

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