Fox News Trails CNN in Key Demographic

Fox News lost ground to CNN in the 25-to-54 demographic during Election Night coverage on November 3, 2026.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Television

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Fox News averaged 4.3 million primetime viewers on Election Night, while CNN averaged 4.1 million, according to Nielsen data. CNN outperformed Fox in the 25-to-54 demographic during the 10 pm hour, more than doubling Fox's audience in that slot.

Why it matters

The shift marks a notable change for Fox, which remains the most-watched cable channel overall but has seen its audience decline sharply since the 2022 midterm election. Fox Corp CEO Lachlan Murdoch attributed the decline to viewer fatigue.

Fox News averaged 4.3 million primetime viewers on Election Night compared with CNN's 4.1 million, and its 2022 midterm average of 7.422 million has since fallen 41 percent. Whether the 25-to-54 demographic lead holds beyond this single night has not been established.

The players

Fox News

Fox News is a American cable news channel owned by Fox Corporation and known as the most-watched cable news network in the United States.

CNN

CNN is a cable news network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery that competes directly with Fox News for cable news audiences.

Lachlan Murdoch

Lachlan Murdoch is the chief executive of Fox Corporation and a son of media executive Rupert Murdoch.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is the current President of the United States, who frequently criticizes Fox News coverage publicly.

The details

CNN drew the most viewers during the 8-11 pm primetime slot and outperformed Fox in the 25-to-54 demographic during the 10 pm hour. President Trump called Fox hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum at midnight to say Fox polls were terrible, and later posted on Truth Social that Fox News ratings are down 27 percent.

2022 midterm election: Fox averaged 7.422 million viewers.
October 2026: Fox's total day audience in the 25-to-54 demographic hit its lowest monthly level in 25 years.
November 3, 2026: Election Night, when CNN outperformed Fox in the 25-to-54 demographic.

Industry Dynamics

The Election Night ratings continue a decline from Fox's 7.422 million average during the 2022 midterm election, a drop of 41 percent. The shift reflects broader competition among cable news networks for the same primetime audiences.

Viewers who watch cable news can find Fox News and CNN through their existing cable or streaming subscriptions. The ratings shift affects which channel is most accessible during primetime election coverage.

The takeaway

Ratings for cable news can shift quickly during high-profile events, so audiences tracking coverage should compare multiple sources and demographic breakdowns rather than relying on total viewership alone.