Trump Refiles Iowa Poll Lawsuit in State Court After Federal Dismissal

President Donald Trump has dismissed his federal lawsuit against Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer and the Des Moines Register, re-filing the case in Iowa state court. The suit challenges a pre-election poll that showed Vice President Kamala Harris leading Trump in Iowa, a result that contrasted with Trump’s eventual 13-point victory in the state. Selzer’s legal team, supported by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, has condemned the lawsuit as an unconstitutional attempt to punish press coverage and has filed motions to dismiss the claims, arguing they infringe on First Amendment rights. The Des Moines Register criticized Trump’s procedural maneuver as improper and a tactic to avoid an expected dismissal in federal court, especially as Iowa is set to enact a new law granting broad protections for news reporting on public interest matters. Despite reports of the lawsuit being dropped, sources close to the White House confirm the case continues in state court with no settlement reached. The ongoing litigation reflects broader questions around the legal liability of pollsters and media for inaccurate but non-defamatory reporting and the appropriateness of political figures pursuing legal action over unfavorable poll results.