Elections
How NPR makes race calls in the 2026 election November 3, 20265:00 AM ETBy
Voters enter a polling station at Midtown Mall on October 31, 2026 in Anchorage, Alaska. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America hide caption
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North AmericaHow NPR makes race calls in the 2026 election
Voters are voting, ballots are being counted and results are starting to come in for 435 House races, 35 Senate races and 36 gubernatorial contests as well as ballot measures and thousands of state legislative seats. But how will NPR call races on election night? Determining a winner in any of the many races across the country is a big job. That's why NPR partners with the Associated Press — and has for many years — to ensure that races are called accurately.
