Fox News was out on a limb alone Tuesday night after projecting that Democrats would win the House at around 9:30 p.m., nearly an hour before any other networks made the call.
According to a Politico report, this is due to their methodology. Fox News partnered with the Associated Press to shun exit polling in favor of voters’ surveys, coupled with AP’s race results.
Fox News political editor Chris Stirewalt appeared on the air just after 10 p.m., when the network was still an island, to explain the early call.
“We’re just that good,” Stirewalt said. “I don’t mean to brag but our Fox News voter analysis and what we are now starting to see as the House races count later and come in — remember in these House races, you don’t have the forecast that you do on the Senate level. It takes longer for them to catch up but you’re starting to see them catch up.”
“We said all along, look at that sixth district in Kentucky,” he continued, referring to Republican Andy Barr’s squeaker win over Democratic challenger Amy McGrath. “That was a good one to watch. The very fact that that race was as close as it was told us, and told me at least, that the Democrats were getting the numbers they need. They have no business doing so well in a district like that.”
Watch Stirewalt’s full explanation here:
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) November 7, 2018
