Democrats stand to win big in the 2018 midterm elections, according to a new poll – perhaps flipping enough seats to take over the House of Representatives.

Forty-four per cent of registered voters say they would vote for a Democrat in their district if an election were held today. Just 37 per cent said they would back a Republican.

Neither party's legislators are held in especially high regard, however. Just 40 per cent said they have a favorable view of congressional Democrats, compared to 49 per cent unfavorable.

Republicans on Capitol Hill have an even worse image problem, with 34 per cent viewing them positively and 56 per cent disagreeing.

House Speaker Paul Ryan could lose his gavel to former speaker Nancy Pelosi if Democrats take over the House next year – an outcome that could be very real according to a new poll

The poll numbers come from Morning Consult, which surveyed voters for Politico.

The GOP holds 240 House seats compared to the Democrats' 194 – meaning a Republican loss of 45 seats would return the lower chamber of Congress to Democratic control.

Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that 'by historical standards, Democrats need an 8-10% lead in the generic ballot to win a majority.'

'They are approaching that level, though it still won’t be easy,' he said.

Sabato pointed out that 'Democrats will be outspent, and gerrymandering helps the Republicans in most places.'

I'd say it's still an uphill challenge for Democrats to win House control, but the hill isn’t nearly as steep as it has been in the past three elections.'

The party that holds the White House has historically lost large numbers of House seats during a president's first midterm election while in office.

The GOP flipped 63 seats in 2010 after two years of Barack Obama's presidency. A 52-seat loss stung Bill Clinton in 1994 and Republicans lost 26 seats under Ronald Reagan in 1982.

Other massive losses plagued Lyndon Johnson and Harry Truman, whose Democratic House majorities lost 47 and 45 House seats, respectively, after their first two years in office.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich warned Wednesday in a USA Today op-ed that former speaker Nancy Pelosi could return to power in a wave election benefiting Democrats if the GOP doesn't pass a massive tax reform package by Thanksgiving.

'Republican lawmakers must come together over tax cuts for hardworking taxpayers before hardworking taxpayers come together against Republican lawmakers,' Gingrich wrote.

It's highly unlikely that the Senate could change hands: Of the 33 seats being contested nest year, Democrats must defend a whopping 25 from Republican challengers.

And 10 of those are in states that President Donald Trump won in 2016.

The news isn't all bad for Republicans in the House, however.

More voters trust them over Democrats to handle the economy, immigration and jobs.

Democrats prevail on energy, education, health care and the environment.

When pollsters asked voters to name the top-of-lind concerns that would drive their congressional vote, the economy placed first. Health care was second.

Voters are split on how Congress should handle health care reform.

A majority, 55 per cent, say the 'individual mandate' – Obamacare's requirement that Americans either buy medical insurance or pay fines – should be repealed.

But the same number said lawmakers should keep Obamacare's guarantee that companies with 50 or more employees provide insurance to their workers.

Fifty-one per cent said Congress should get rid of an Obamacare tax on medical devices such as hip implants and pacemakers.

If those features of Obamacare were repealed, 36 per cent of voters said it would make the U.S. health care system better. But 35 per cent said it would get worse.

The Morning Consult/Politico polling sample included 35 per cent self-identified Democrats and 34 per cent Republicans, with an even 37-37 split of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump voters.