Watch live: PBS election night 2026 special coverage as pivotal races unfold

A pivotal election night

The 2026 midterms will take place while President Donald Trump is in office, and the results could influence the final years of his presidency. Democrats have gained ground on affordability and the Iran War, as voters consider the effects of Trump-led policies on daily life.

In the final PBS News/NPR/Marist poll before Election Day, Democrats led by 8 points among likely voters in the contest for control of Congress. Trump, whose approval ratings are described as historically low, has traveled from Kansas to New York and Alaska to support Republican candidates in key races.

Coverage and election results

PBS News’ live broadcast starts at 6 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Co-anchors Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett will lead the coverage with analysts and campaign strategists, including Amy Walter, Mo Elleithee and Doug Heye.

The PBS News website will feature live state-by-state result maps and breakdowns of key races. Viewers can watch through a local PBS station, online or in the video player, and follow updates on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. PBS News will provide live ASL interpretation with D-PAN.

Election monitoring and concerns

Trump has continued to claim falsely that the 2020 election was rigged and has criticized early voting. He voted in person in West Palm Beach, Florida, more than a week before Nov. 3.

How race calls are made

The Associated Press expects to make thousands of calls in midterm races. About 4,000 AP journalists will gather results from local precincts and election offices, while around 1,000 vote-entry clerks enter totals into the agency’s reporting system.

For the first time in a major general election, AP is partnering with broadcast news networks on its new Voter Poll. The updated survey will examine voter demographics and motivations and provide results in every state with a statewide election.