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2026 Midterms: Where to watch live election coverage and results for free
The 2026 US midterm elections will determine control of Congress, with every House seat and 35 Senate seats contested, alongside 36 governorships. The article outlines where viewers can follow live coverage and results as polls close across the country.
FOX News, CNN, MS Now and Newsmax TV are scheduled to provide national coverage, while local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC stations will also carry results. Polls first close at 6 p.m. ET in parts of Indiana and Kentucky; polls in Texas and Michigan, two major Senate battlegrounds, close at 9 p.m. ET. For people without cable, the article points to live TV streaming, including a DIRECTV five-day free trial and its Election HQ service for subscribers with a compatible device.
In short
- All House seats, 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships are contested.
- National and local broadcasters will carry election coverage.
- DIRECTV offers a five-day trial and a results platform for some subscribers.
Explained simply
US midterm elections take place halfway through a president’s four-year term. Voters choose all 435 members of the House of Representatives and a portion of the Senate, as well as governors in some states.
Congress writes federal laws and approves spending, so which party controls it can affect the president’s ability to advance policies. State governors lead their state governments, and election results are counted as polls close at different times across the country.