The approval ratings of the Congress are presently at their lowest as the brand of the Republican Party has fallen flat. A majority of people feel that their own Congress representatives need to be sent away. In such a scenario, when the legislature has proved to be the least productive for an extended period of time, the most significant act was the government becoming non-functional for sixteen days.

Still, it is predicted that Republicans will manage to win almost a dozen United States House seats in the month of November this year. This would tighten their hold on the House majority. Representative Greg Walden was reported saying that he would rather be ‘us’ than ‘them’.

Republicans enjoy advantage in the House

The Democrats feel that they would make progress in the House. However the Republicans enjoy several internal advantages and benefits this year. These include the following:

The districts which have been newly redrawn have led to a situation of lesser competitive seats.

The trend of midterm elections for several years indicates a restricted turnout of Democrats.

The fading popularity of President Obama is part of a political environment which suggests that there is very little possibility of a “wave” to turn the tables in favor of the Democrats.

Republicans and Democrats are stuck in a competitive fight, each seeking to gain control over the United States Senate for the coming year. However, apart from an unstable political event taking place between the present and the elections, the chances of GOP controlling the US House seems less of a possibility. There are several reasons for this.

Why GOP cannot rule the US House next year

The congressional lines in various districts were redrawn in the year 2012. This is a constitutional requirement to be fulfilled on a ten years basis, depending on the shift in population. Until now, the Republicans have enjoyed an upper hand in majority of the states. This is after the GOP got hold of the state legislatures and governorships post the Tea Party revolution in 2010.

The ultimate result has been a tremendous fall in the count of competitive seats and an increase in the Democratic or Republican votes that there is no possibility of ever switching party hold. At present, approximately fifty districts in the House account for the total of the 2014 election battleground.