How Accurate Were the Polls?

Polls predicted that the election was going to be a toss-up, but as Republicans swept the presidency and Senate, some say it doesn't feel like the polls got it right. How far off were they?

Where the Polls Were Off: Several outlets on the right pointed out that The Des Moines Register and Mediacom poll that put Vice President Kamala Harris ahead by three points in Iowa was way off, as Trump won Iowa by 16 points. A Washington Examiner (Lean Right) analysis suggested while some states, like Michigan and Georgia, voted close to their polling predictions, in other states, like New Jersey, President-elect Donald Trump outperformed expectations. Some noted this is the third straight election that polls have undercounted Trump's support.

Where the Polls Were Accurate: An analysis in the New York Times (Lean Left) argued the polls were relatively accurate. The economy was consistently shown as a top concern for voters, and polling showed that voters trusted Trump more on the issue. It added that the Times' polling was close to the actual results in Georgia and Wisconsin. A BBC News (Center bias) analysis agreed, "Trump's margin of victory [in battleground states like Pennsylvania] was typically within striking distance of his performance in the polls, even if the forecasts were slightly lower than the final outcome."