Fox News performs far below expectations in preliminary election-night ratings for the 2026 midterm elections, according to early viewership figures reported by multiple outlets. The results come as Republicans face setbacks in Congress, with Democrats taking control of both the US House and Senate.
The Washington Examiner and The Guardian both point to a sharp drop compared with earlier midterm coverage, describing a significant slump for the conservative-leaning network. The Guardian adds a more granular comparison of prime-time audiences across several channels, citing preliminary Nielsen “Fast Nationals” totals in the 8–11pm window and placing Fox behind major broadcast networks and some cable competitors. The Washington Examiner emphasizes the magnitude of the overall ratings decline and ties it to a broader nationwide shift toward Democratic outcomes.
While both sources agree on Fox News’s weaker-than-usual showing, their emphasis differs: one highlights the scale of the plunge, and the other focuses on relative rankings and head-to-head audience totals across networks.
