Rachel Maddow to lead MS NOW’s 2026 midterm election coverage

Rachel Maddow will lead MS NOW’s coverage of the 2026 midterm elections beginning at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, as the cable news network prepares for its first midterm election since separating from NBC News.

The network’s election coverage, branded “We The People,” will feature live results, political analysis and reporting from 10 states, along with new interactive programming for members and a behind-the-scenes livestream featuring Ali Velshi at the Big Board.

Maddow will anchor the primetime broadcast alongside Nicolle Wallace, Chris Hayes, Jen Psaki, Lawrence O’Donnell, Michael Steele, Symone Sanders Townsend, Ari Melber, Peter Alexander and Stephanie Ruhle.

Velshi will provide election data analysis throughout the night, tracking congressional races, voting patterns and results as ballots are counted.

MS NOW is also expanding its digital election coverage with “VelshiCast,” a livestream on the network’s YouTube channel that will follow Velshi behind the scenes as he works at the Big Board.

Velshi made his debut as the network’s primary election data analyst during its 2025 election coverage. Ali Vitali will join the Big Board team during the early morning hours of Nov. 4, 2026.

The network will begin Election Day with special editions of its regular programs, including “Way Too Early,” “Morning Joe,” “Money, Power, Politics,” “State of Play,” “The Moment” and “Deadline: White House.”

Alicia Menendez will anchor “On the Line” live from Houston, Texas.

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MS NOW’s election coverage will continue overnight, with Jonathan Capehart, Eugene Daniels and Jackie Alemany taking over anchoring duties at 2 a.m. Eastern.

On Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Willie Geist and Jonathan Lemire will lead a special edition of “Morning Joe,” examining the results and their implications for control of Congress.

Menendez will return from Texas to co-anchor additional coverage with Alexander in New York, New York, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern.

The network will also present election previews during the weekend before the vote.

Chris Jansing will anchor special live coverage from 4 to 5 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026.

Menendez will host an additional hour at 6 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 1, followed by a two-hour “We The People” special led by Maddow beginning at 7 p.m.

Wallace, Hayes, Psaki, O’Donnell, Steele, Sanders Townsend and Melber will join Maddow for the Sunday evening broadcast.

MS NOW plans to deploy reporters to 10 states with competitive congressional and statewide elections.

Vaughn Hillyard, Nnamdi Egwuonwu and Antonia Hylton will report from Georgia, while Akayla Gardner will cover North Carolina and Laura Barrón-López will report from Ohio.

Will McDuffie will cover Maine, with Jansing and Mychael Schnell assigned to Michigan.

Jacob Soboroff, Jake Traylor and Rosa Flores will report from Texas, while Alex Tabet will cover Iowa.

Additional assignments include Jillian Frankel in Arizona, Kevin Frey in Kansas and David Noriega in Alaska.

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Paula Reid to become MS NOW’s chief White House reporter

Paula Reid, who recently joined MS NOW as chief White House reporter after working at CNN, will provide updates from the Trump administration.

The network is also introducing a three-hour interactive election night program designed to connect viewers with its anchors and journalists.

“MS NOW Members Lounge: Election Night Live Q&A” will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 3, with Ruhle, Daniels, Katy Tur and Luke Russert hosting from the network’s green room.

The livestream will feature reactions to election developments, discussions with correspondents and appearances by MS NOW personalities throughout the evening.

Although the broadcast will be available to all viewers through the network’s website, app, YouTube channel and TikTok account, the ability to submit questions and participate in interactive features will be reserved for MS NOW members.

The initiative is part of the network’s recently introduced membership program, which provides additional digital experiences beyond its traditional television programming.

MS NOW will also offer a contest allowing viewers to compete for a limited-edition vest inspired by Velshi’s election night wardrobe.

Participants must answer a question about the most recognizable fashion item in political history. The contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026.

Throughout election night, the network’s website will feature live results, race projections, reporting and analysis.

A continuously updated election blog will include contributions from MS NOW journalists, outside analysts and correspondents reporting from competitive states.

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The election blog and results pages will be available without a paywall on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4, 2026.