Several network news sites, both cable and broadcast, state that Republican candidates have not won various races even though they lead in vote totals because the networks themselves have not "declared" them the winners.
Don't you understand? Network news departments think they are in charge of declaring winners and not the county clerks, secretaries of state, or state boards of elections who officially tabulate results.
This arrogance is not new but it becomes more obnoxious in close races where networks ignore their own or official tabulations to cheer lead for their favorite Democratic candidate.