WATCH LIVE: Election night 2026 PBS News special coverage

Voters will decide control of Congress on Tuesday, Nov. 3, in midterm elections that will shape the last stretch of Donald Trump's presidency, even though he is not a candidate. PBS News will broadcast live special coverage starting at 6 p. m. EST, anchored by Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett with analysts and campaign strategists, and will offer live ASL interpretation. The website will carry state-by-state result maps, according to PBS NewsHour.

Democrats appear to hold the edge. PBS News reports that its final poll with NPR and Marist shows them eight points ahead among likely voters in the battle for Congress, helped by voter concern over affordability and the Iran War. Trump's approval ratings are at historic lows, yet he has traveled from Kansas to New York to Alaska to energize Republican candidates in traditionally friendly territory. State and election officials, meanwhile, are preparing for possible interference, since the Justice Department plans to send 1,000 monitors to all 50 states.

The Associated Press expects to call thousands of races, relying on about 4,000 journalists in the field, roughly 1,000 vote-entry clerks and a Decision Team of experts.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →