By Florida Man News Network staff · Wed., Nov. 4, 2026
Democrats took the House and the Senate on Tuesday night. Donald Trump spent the night on Truth Social.
He didn't say the election was stolen. Not yet, anyway. What he did was blame almost everyone but himself. And while he told reporters he'd accept the results, his Justice Department is still pushing cases that could slow down or challenge the outcome in at least two states.
That second part is the fight. Here's the record.
Part one: What Trump posted and said
Before the results. As polls closed, Trump went after Fox News. "Watching the Pre-Election Results on FoxNews, but I can't stand Jessica Tarlov's voice — DUMB AS A ROCK," he posted. "Have to go somewhere else until that LOSER is off the air." He also texted Fox host Greg Gutfeld about Tarlov, and Gutfeld read the text on air. (Newsweek, HuffPost)
Then he blamed the network. "FoxNews bears responsibility for these losses by constantly and consistently putting on the Dumocrat opposition, and worse." (Newsweek)
When the losses piled up. "I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter." (Forbes)
After the AP called the Senate for Democrats. "I'm going to become a Political Pundit, both good and bad, on the reasons these Candidates won and lost!" (Forbes)
Then he turned on his own. On Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who lost to Democrat Gina Hinojosa: "If Greg Abbott, the Governor of Texas, hadn't become a RINO in the last six months of his Political Life, he wouldn't have lost. He went back to his original formula, and it wasn't pretty!" (AFP via The Star)
The hat. He posted a photo of a red MAGA-style cap with one word on it: "VETO." No caption. (ThePrint)
Early Wednesday on Fox. He called in, said Democrats "did a good job" and "fought hard," and said, "I don't view it as a hit on me." He said Democrats will "send over things that are insane and I'll veto them," and acknowledged the Iran conflict played a part in the losses. (The National, AFP)
To The New York Times. "I am absolutely willing to accept those results." (Newsweek)
Part two: Why "I accept" isn't the end of it
Trump's acceptance has always come with a condition. Asked by NBC's Tom Llamas whether he'd trust the results if Republicans lost Congress, he said: "I will if the elections are honest." (HuffPost)
And before the vote, he and his administration put these in motion:
1. Alaska: a lawsuit to block certification
Trump said he ordered the Justice Department to sue Alaska to block certification of the Senate race if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses. The DOJ argues a second candidate, retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., was a "sham" meant to confuse voters. Peltola's campaign denies any involvement. A federal judge threw the case out on Sunday, Nov. 1, for lack of standing, and the DOJ filed notice it will appeal to the 9th Circuit. (CNBC, CNBC)
At 1:12 a.m. on Election Day, Trump posted in all caps that the other Sullivan was "MISSING IN ACTION" and that "THEY ARE SCARED STIFF OF BEING PROSECUTED FOR ELECTION FRAUD!!!" (Irish Star)
Why it matters right now: As of 9 a.m. ET Wednesday, the AP had Democrat Mary Peltola ahead 102,701 to 102,075, a 626-vote margin. The second Sullivan drew 3,583 votes, nearly six times the gap. The lead has changed hands overnight, and the state updates its count on Nov. 10, 13 and 18. (Cox Media/AP, Newsweek) That is exactly the setup the DOJ lawsuit was built for.
One more thing to watch: Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has declined to say whether the election will be certified if Peltola wins while the investigation is still open. Under state law, certification is the job of the Division of Elections director, Carol Beecher, also a Republican. (Anchorage Daily News)
2. California: 20,000 ballots and a grand jury
The DOJ sued to make California set aside ballots from 20,000 people it called "likely noncitizens." A federal judge said no, warning it would "wreak havoc." The 9th Circuit said no. The Supreme Court turned the administration away on Nov. 2. (AP via WJLA, Democracy Docket, MS NOW)
But the investigation keeps going. At least three Los Angeles County election officials were asked to appear before a federal grand jury today, the day after the election. The subpoenas seek their communications about the federal noncitizen allegations. (AP via Santa Monica Daily Press, Just the News) We have not yet confirmed whether the appearances went forward.
3. The $1 million bounty
On Oct. 26, Trump posted that anyone reporting voter fraud "in the past Elections, or the upcoming 2026 Midterm Election, will be paid $1,000,000 upon the arrest and conviction of those that created the Fraud!" The White House never said who would pay or how. (NBC News) Analysts warned the tips could be used later to contest results.
4. Minnesota: the excuse written in advance
Eight days out, Trump wrote that Republican Michele Tafoya could lose the Senate race only "if they cheat by playing games with the Ballots as they come in." He gave no evidence. (IBTimes)
5. The pattern
By a New York Times count cited by Slate, Trump has claimed rigged elections on 460 days of his second term. (Slate) And as CNN noted Wednesday, most of his biggest moves to overturn 2020 came weeks after Election Day, not on election night. (CNN)
What to watch
Alaska: the count updates on Nov. 10, 13 and 18, and the DOJ's 9th Circuit appeal. If Peltola holds the lead, watch for the "decoy" argument to come back, and for Trump to post about it.
Los Angeles: any charges against election workers would be a major escalation.
Truth Social: he says he accepts. Watch whether "if they're honest" returns as the last close races are called.
Certification: state boards certify over the coming weeks. That's where the 2020 fights happened.
The Florida angle
None of these lawsuits targets Florida's results. Florida certifies through county canvassing boards and the state Elections Canvassing Commission. If anyone pressures a Florida board to delay, we'll report it.
What the other side says
Trump and the White House say he isn't to blame; a White House official said Trump promoted many candidates better than they promoted themselves. (Reuters via Korea Times) The DOJ says it is protecting voters: "Alaskan voters deserve a fair election, not to be misled in an attempt to rig outcomes," a spokesperson said. (AP)
And credit where it's due: on Election Day, the Republican National Committee's own Election Integrity team debunked a viral video claiming San Diego ballots were being loaded into an "unmarked van." It was a county vehicle, and the workers were doing their jobs. (CNN)