US television networks and digital platforms are preparing extensive coverage of the congressional and gubernatorial elections on Tuesday, November 3. Major broadcasters plan more airtime, data and reporters than for previous midterms. The vote will test voters’ views of Donald Trump and determine control of Congress.
NBC News has scheduled 13 hours on its flagship network, from 5 p.m. ET Tuesday until 6 a.m. the next morning — its longest midterm election broadcast. CNN will begin round-the-clock coverage at midnight ET Tuesday. For the first time since 2016, all major networks will use the same exit poll, The Voter Poll by SSRS. It will cover 45 states holding Senate or gubernatorial elections.
Networks are also preparing special broadcasts and digital tools. NBC News will bring back Kornacki Cam, a stream in which Steve Kornacki tracks results, while MS NOW will stream Ali Velshi’s VelshiCast on YouTube. CBS News has prepared Election 2026: The Nerd Show, featuring data, models and forecasts.
CNN will introduce Sightline, an assessment of where candidates stand and an explanation of why the network is not yet ready to call a winner. CBS will launch FutureCast, which projects control of the House and Senate while noting the margin of error. Fox News will expand its use of augmented reality and voice recognition and add an artificial intelligence chatbot to its app.
Independent outlets will also compete for viewers. The Bulwark will host a free livestream, Jubilee Media will hold its first election-night broadcast on YouTube, and Chuck Todd and Chris Cillizza will make their own projections with Decision Desk HQ. C-SPAN will carry The Young Turks with Cenk Uygur and Patrick Bet-David’s PBD Podcast on its channels. Piers Morgan will host three YouTube programs from Washington, including a four-hour special.
Networks are expanding their coverage as competitive races emerge in states once considered reliably Republican. Broadcasters say they must prepare for different possible outcomes and monitor potential polling-place disruptions, legal disputes and fraud claims. Newsrooms will deploy legal journalists and election-integrity specialists; CBS News will also track possible violations through its Democracy Desk.
Some networks will include prediction-market data in their coverage. CBS News will use Kalshi data, while CNN considers such markets one of many information sources. NewsNation and Fox News said they do not plan to rely on them as their primary forecasting tool.
