CBS News sets Nov. 3 broadcast plans for 2026 midterms

Voters in 39 states will choose governors, while all 435 House seats and 35 Senate races are up for grabs in the 2026 midterm elections. CBS News will provide live results and analysis on all platforms beginning after polls close on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The network’s cable broadcast, titled “America Decides: Election 2026,” starts at 7 p.m. ET. Tony Dokoupil and Norah O’Donnell anchor the program from the main set. They are joined by Gayle King, Margaret Brennan, and political reporters Robert Costa, Major Garrett, Nancy Cordes, and Ed O’Keefe.

Anthony Salvanto, the executive director of elections and surveys, leads live updates from Washington and other locations. Correspondents including Weijia Jiang, Nikole Killion, Adriana Diaz, Matt Gutman, and Nicole Sganga provide reporting from the field. The lineup also features political analysts and election law experts from both major parties.

Viewers without cable can stream the coverage on the CBS News app, Paramount+, CBSNews.com, and YouTube. The stream runs continuously from 5 p.m. ET, beginning with “Election 2026: The Nerd Show.” This segment is hosted by Salvanto and congressional correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns, who discuss data with Democratic and Republican pollsters.

CBS Stations in 15 owned markets will broadcast local and network coverage. Local streaming channels offer sustained live updates. In Atlanta, viewers watch on WUPA Channel 69 rather than a dedicated stream.

Poll closing times vary by state. The first states close at 7 p.m. ET, while California and other Western states close at 11 p.m. ET. Hawaii follows at midnight ET, and Alaska closes at 1 a.m. ET. The speed of results depends on the margin of victory and state rules for counting mail-in ballots.

Coverage continues on Wednesday morning on “CBS Mornings” and via streaming on CBS News 24/7.