NEW YORK – November 5, 2026 – An estimated 31.2 million people watched primetime coverage of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, according to Nielsen.
While coverage varied by network, 13 networks televised the election from approximately 8:00 p.m. ET – 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Viewership peaked during the 9:30 PM ET half hour with 32.4 million viewers. A full list of reported networks and simulcasting streaming platforms can be referenced in the viewership summary table below.
Of the 31.2 million people that tuned in, 57% watched broadcast network coverage, while 43% watched coverage on cable networks.
Nielsen data in this report is based on Big Data + Panel measurement, which was implemented in September 2025.
| 2026 Midterm Election Viewership Aggregated Viewership Across TV Networks Event Date: November 3, 2026 | ||
| Live plus same day, U.S. audience estimates. | Viewing Audience | Rating |
| Persons 2+ | 31,207,000 | 9.7 |
| Households | 21,613,000 | 16.9 |
| Persons 18-34 | 2,850,000 | 3.9 |
| Persons 35-54 | 7,498,000 | 8.9 |
| Persons 55+ | 19,664,000 | 19.3 |
Source: Nielsen Big Data + Panel. NNTV. Live + Same Day.
Data in this table is inclusive of broadcast and cable networks that aired the event, and simulcasts on streaming platforms where applicable, in addition to PBS.
Reported TV networks include: ABC, CBS, NBC, Telemundo, Univision, PBS, CNN, CNN en Espanol, FOX Business, FOX News Channel, MSNow, Newsmax, NewsNation.
Streaming simulcast contributions include: ABC – contribution from ABC News Live, CBS – contribution from CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+, NBC – contribution from NBC News Now and Peacock, and Fox News – contribution from Fox One.
Audience estimates are inclusive of out-of-home viewing for all reported networks except Newsmax, NewsNation and PBS, which do not include out-of-home contributions.
Audience projections are rounded to the nearest thousand (000).
Historical Midterm Election Viewership Data
U.S. Television Audience Estimates
| Year | Number of Viewers P2+ | Networks |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 31,207,000 | ABC, CBS, NBC, TEL, UNI, PBS, CNN, CNNe, Fox Business, Fox News Channel, MSNow, Newsmax, NewsNation |
| 2022 | 25,434,000 | ABC, CBS, NBC, TEL, UNI, CNN, CNNe, Fox Business, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, Newsmax, NewsNation |
| 2018 | 36,111,000 | ABC, CBS, NBC, TEL, UNI, PBS, CNN, CNNe, Fox Business, Fox News Channel, MSNBC |
| 2014 | 22,712,000 | ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC |
| 2010 | 34,911,000 | ABC, CBS, NBC, UNI, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC |
| 2006 | 31,398,000 | ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC |
| 2002 | 26,297,000 | ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC |
About Nielsen
Nielsen is a global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics. Through our understanding of people and their behaviors across all channels and platforms, we empower our clients with independent and actionable intelligence so they can connect and engage with their global audiences—now and into the future. Learn more at www.nielsen.com and connect with us on social media (X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram).
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