NPR Relies on AP for 2026 Election Race Calls
The network will use the wire service's mathematical analysis to determine winners in 435 House, 35 Senate, and 36 gubernatorial races without waiting for every ballot to be counted.
By Jabari Long ·
NPR has contracted with the Associated Press to determine winners in the 2026 election, a partnership that spans 435 House races, 35 Senate contests, and 36 gubernatorial races. This arrangement allows the network to broadcast results as soon as the AP confirms a clear outcome, rather than waiting for the final vote totals. The AP has used this methodology for nearly 180 years, dating back to 1848.
The AP’s Decision Team, which includes analysts and decision editors, reviews data from county-level vote counts and ballot types. They distinguish between in-person polling place votes and advance mail or in-person ballots. This team tracks the number of outstanding ballots against those already counted to calculate the probability of a specific winner.
Race callers analyze the demographics of areas where votes remain uncounted and the voting history of those communities. They assess whether a candidate can mathematically overcome the gap with the remaining votes. The AP states that these calls are declarations based on data analysis, not predictions or speculation.
The organization does not use the term apparent or likely winner. It waits until the trailing candidates lose any path to victory. For example, the AP did not call the 2000 presidential race in Florida because the margin was too close to determine a definitive winner. This standard of certainty is the core of their process.
NPR will not call a race based on a candidate's declaration of victory or a concession speech. The network will alert its broadcast and digital audiences through special coverage and online stories. It will also distribute this data to its member stations and use it to populate real-time election results pages.
The AP emphasizes that its calls are backed by transparent reporting on the research and analysis used. This explanatory journalism is a standard part of their election coverage. The process ensures that hundreds of news organizations, including NPR, rely on the same verified data for their reporting.
Counting votes may continue after election night, and race calls will help determine the balance of power in the Senate and House of Representatives. NPR will provide ongoing coverage of these results on air and online. The network will track how the 2026 election outcomes shake out across the country.
