### Gannett Investigates Alleged Leak of Controversial Iowa Poll Results

The company responsible for the Des Moines Register is conducting an investigation after accusations that results from a contentious Iowa poll were leaked on the social media platform X ahead of their official release. The poll, conducted by Ann Selzer, inaccurately projected Vice President Kamala Harris as the frontrunner in Iowa, creating a media frenzy for several days.

Released by the Des Moines Register on November 2nd, the poll suggested that Harris was ahead by three points in a state traditionally leaning towards former President Donald Trump. However, an anonymous user named "IllinoisLib" posted these results on X approximately one hour before their scheduled publication. According to a report by Semafor, the user cited Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as the source, claiming he disclosed the poll data at a Duke Democrats meeting earlier in the day.

Gannett, the publishing giant that owns the Des Moines Register, is reportedly scrutinizing how Pritzker and potentially other political figures could have gained early access to the poll findings. Investigators are examining employees' emails as part of this probe.

The poll, taken three days before the November election, showed Harris leading Trump by three points, signifying a dramatic seven-point shift from a previous poll in September where Trump held the lead. This unexpected outcome prompted wide coverage and optimistic interpretations from media outlets like MSNBC, CNN, and ABC's "The View," which saw it as a promising development for Harris.

Upon the election results, which saw Trump secure a clear victory in Iowa, conservative pundits and Trump supporters criticized Selzer's poll. The Des Moines Register later reported that Selzer was reassessing her methods to understand the discrepancy between her projections and the actual election outcome.

In an op-ed for the Des Moines Register, Selzer addressed the backlash, suggesting that the poll itself might have inadvertently mobilized Republican voters. She acknowledged the influx of questions and criticism about the poll's validity and announced her team's efforts to review the data and methodologies used.

Selzer admitted she sensed a late shift in voter sentiment, which may have contributed to the poll's inaccuracies. She affirmed that her team is committed to raising any credible questions about the execution and interpretation of their data.

Fox News' Lindsay Kornick contributed additional reporting to this story.