MS NOW Anchors Launched Midterm Election Tour

The network has kicked off a month-long series of live broadcasts from five key battleground states.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Elections

A broadcast camera and lighting equipment set up on an American city plaza during autumn, representing national political news coverage. — MS NOW is launching a month-long series of live broadcasts titled Road to the Midterms from five battleground states this October. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you find live reporting from battleground states helpful for your midterm election voting decisions?

MS NOW anchors are traveling to five different states throughout October 2026 to report on the upcoming midterm elections. The network programming series, titled Road to the Midterms, aims to provide on-the-ground coverage as the election date approaches.

Why it matters

The series brings national news attention to specific regions identified as battlegrounds during the final stretch of the election cycle. This effort aims to capture local sentiment and developments in areas critical to the national political outcome.

The tour includes visits to Maine, Ohio, Georgia, Texas, and Michigan. Programming will feature anchors including Jen Psaki, Ali Velshi, Chris Hayes, Katy Tur, and Peter Alexander.

The players

Jen Psaki

She is an anchor for MS NOW who will lead the network's broadcast efforts from Portland, Maine.

Ali Velshi

He is a network anchor who is scheduled to broadcast his segment from Columbus, Ohio, in mid-October.

Chris Hayes

He is a host at the network who will report on the midterm elections from Atlanta, Georgia.

Katy Tur

She is an anchor who will provide live coverage of the midterm election landscape from Austin, Texas.

Peter Alexander

He is an anchor assigned to broadcast from Detroit, Michigan, as part of the Road to the Midterms series.

The details

Anchors will originate their respective programs live from various cities, supported by a team of reporting staff including Chris Jansing, Shawna Thomas, Nnamdi Egwuonwu, Will McDuffie, and Josh Einiger. The series incorporates shows like State of Play at 11 a.m., The Moment at 2 p.m., All In at 8 p.m., The Briefing at 9 p.m., and The 11th Hour at 11 p.m. ET.

October 2026: Anchors broadcast from battleground states throughout the month.
October 13, 2026: Ali Velshi broadcasts from Columbus, Ohio.
October 14, 2026: Chris Hayes broadcasts from Atlanta, Georgia.
October 20, 2026: Katy Tur broadcasts from Austin, Texas.
October 27, 2026: Peter Alexander broadcasts from Detroit, Michigan.

Political Context

This initiative follows the pattern established by historical election-year road shows where networks deploy talent to regions of high political volatility. Opponents of this coverage style often argue that such reporting emphasizes partisan narratives rather than localized substantive policy concerns.

Viewers in the selected battleground states may experience logistical changes related to live production sites during these broadcasts. For the broader public, this coverage serves as a primary source for tracking the late-stage political campaigns and issues defining the midterm election.

The takeaway

The series highlights the intense focus on specific regional demographics in the final month of the election cycle. Viewers can track how these live reports from battleground states compare to polling trends throughout October.