ABC News projects Democratic control of Congress

What the projection means

ABC News projected that Democrats would gain control of Congress, describing discontent with Donald Trump and the economy as central factors in voters’ decisions. The phrase “blue wave” refers to broad Democratic gains across multiple contests rather than the outcome of a single race.

Congress has two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Control depends on whether a party wins enough seats to hold a majority. A projection is a news organization’s assessment of election outcomes, while election officials are responsible for counting ballots and certifying results.

Economy and voter sentiment

The projection places the economy and jobs at the center of the political shift. Economic discontent describes voter dissatisfaction, but the broad description does not tie that dissatisfaction to a particular policy, industry, employment measure or economic statistic.

Donald Trump is also identified as a factor in the expected Democratic gains. That framing connects voter attitudes about Trump with congressional choices, where voters select representatives and senators rather than a president.

What makes control official

Media projections do not determine who controls Congress. State and local election officials count ballots under their election procedures, and results become official through certification.

The final balance of power depends on certified outcomes and the number of seats each party holds in each chamber. Those totals determine whether Democrats have secured congressional control and the ability to set the legislative agenda in a chamber.