The midterm election night coverage on several cable news networks became a focal point for criticism regarding the on-air commentary and emotional reactions of hosts and analysts. Commentators from MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News drew particular attention for their takes on the election results.
MSNBC's Joe Scarborough expressed strong opinions on the election's outcome, stating on air, "You brutalized Hispanics in a way that I told you personally was going to destroy you politically! I told you that! I told you it would destroy you politically. I warned you," according to reporting from Daily Mail.
On CNN, anchor Jake Tapper's commentary and apparent enthusiasm as early results favored Democrats were noted. The network's coverage included observations from analysts like Van Jones, who expressed strong positive sentiments about the Democratic performance, at one point saying, "I'm happy, happy, happy! I'm so happy!" and comparing the night to "Christmas, and a birthday and the Easter Bunny and Halloween." He also controversially compared the situation for the Republican Party to the Jonestown cult massacre. Lawrence O'Donnell also engaged with MSNBC's Symone Sanders-Townsend, who expressed emotional reactions to the results.
Former President Donald Trump also weighed in on the coverage, specifically criticizing a Fox News poll as a "hit job." He reportedly sent a text message to Fox News host Greg Gutfeld during live coverage, which Gutfeld read on air. Trump's text stated, "Greg, tell [Jessica] Tarlov, who is the worst – and worst is in capitals – gas prices are lower than they were for Biden and Obama and they allowed Iran to have the nuclear bomb."
The criticism extended to the framing of certain election outcomes. While Florida Republican Byron Donalds was declared the winner of the state's gubernatorial election, becoming the first Black Republican governor, the commentary on some networks focused more on Democratic victories. Sanders-Townsend remarked on the win, stating, "As you say in my community, all kinfolk ain't skinfolk." Following his victory, Donalds' Wikipedia page was reportedly altered to list him as "the first openly gay man to serve as governor."