With investigations of scandal engulfing the Trump presidency, Republicans bitterly divided against each other, and the prospect of an anti-Trump wave election coming into view, the stage is set for a historic victory for Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections.

Today, we consider the battle for control of the House. Soon we will consider the Senate elections, including the chance for Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) to pull off a shocker and unseat Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzVideo of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Democrat on Graham video urging people to 'use my words against me': 'Done' MORE (R-Texas).

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For reasons detailed below, House Democrats now have an even money or better chance of regaining control of the House.

First, the first midterm election of a new president often brings disastrous results for that president’s party. President Trump has reached epic levels of unpopularity, which suggests that the magnitude of midterm losses for Republicans could well be in the higher range of midterm defeats.

Second, high negative ratings for the Republican Congress parallel the disastrous negative ratings of the Republican president. As of Wednesday morning the summary of polling from RealClearPolitics shows Democrats with a lead of 8.6 percent over Republicans, a substantial lead that augurs well for Democrats.

Third, intense antipathy against Trump suggests above average voter turnout for Democrats, while the escalating civil war between GOP factions destroys Republican unity and threatens Republican turnout.

With President Trump often criticizing Republican leaders in Congress, Republican members of the House and Senate increasingly criticizing Trump, and power players such as Steve Bannon and Breitbart virtually declaring war against House Speaker Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 At indoor rally, Pence says election runs through Wisconsin Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates MORE (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Trump expects to nominate woman to replace Ginsburg next week Video of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral MORE (R-Ky.) the dangers to Republicans in 2018 are multiplied.

If Trump and/or Bannon continue attacking Republicans in Congress there will be some voters in the Trump base who will stay home on Election Day or vote against Republican incumbents that Trump or Bannon attack.

There is also a strong probability that moderate Republican, independent and swing voters will recoil against all Republicans and vote Democratic.

The extraordinary political uniqueness of the Trump phenomenon will create an extraordinarily unique turnout pattern that will likely advantage Democrats over Republicans. Democratic voters are motivated. Republican voters are divided.

Fourth, the GOP attempt to govern America like a one-party Republican state has failed dismally. There was not one significant legislative victory for the Trump or Republican agenda for the first seven to eight months of the Trump presidency and current GOP Congress. Republicans lost everything on matters of legislative achievement, which alienates the GOP base from GOP leaders and appalls virtually all other voters.

It is no coincidence that the ill-fated attempt to repeal and replace ObamaCare became one of the most unpopular and politically disastrous fiascos in modern political history. Nor is it a coincidence that the only legislative victory for Trump came when he negotiated with Democratic leaders for an agreement that was intensely opposed by Republican leaders.

Fifth, there is now a surge of extremely strong recruited or self-generating Democratic candidates, especially young and dynamic Democratic veterans, who were inspired to run by the urgency of taking America back from Trump and Republicans.

Sixth, in a development that creates potentially extreme danger for the GOP, there are signs of a surge of retirements by Republicans in Congress who see a coming political disaster or find continued membership in the GOP House to be a highly unappealing prospect.

Seventh, aggressive primaries against incumbent GOP members from pro-Trump or far right Republicans will help elect more Democrats in 2018.

Eighth, continuing events surrounding the investigations of Russia and other potential scandals will range in impact from damaging to catastrophic for Republicans.

It is obviously too early for conclusive predictions but the odds are high for an anti-Trump wave election. Almost everything that would have to happen for Democrats to regain control of the House is now happening. House Democrats are poised to hit the jackpot in 2018.

Brent Budowsky was an aide to former Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) and former Rep. Bill Alexander (D-Ark.), then-chief deputy majority whip of the House. He holds an LL.M. in international financial law from the London School of Economics.