WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Control of Congress is up for grabs in the upcoming election. Candidates for the Senate and the House are battling it out in high stakes races all across the country. 

A lot of attention is being paid to the presidential race, but the presidential candidates are also campaigning alongside candidates for Congress. Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are hoping to tip the scales in their party’s favor. 

The balance of power will be critical in determining what does and doesn’t get accomplished in the next few years.

George Washington University political science professor Todd Belt says the fight for Congress is very competitive and either party has a chance to win the majority in the House and the Senate. 

“It looks like it’s anybody’s bet who could get the House. And the Republicans have an edge on the Senate,” Belt said. 

He explains that control of the House is likely to come down to just a handful of competitive districts, many of which are clustered in California and New York. 

“States where there are Republicans that are holding districts that were won by Joe Biden last time so they’re very very potentially swingy,” Belt said. 

Currently, Democrats hold a razor thin majority in the Senate, but more Democratic senators are up for re-election this year. 

“Democrats have a lot more to hang on to than Republicans do, so that gives Republicans an opportunity to chip away, but if they do chip away it’s really looking like it’s only going to be one, two, or three seats,” Belt said. 

If control of Congress is divided, it will be harder for either party to enact their agenda. 

“We’ll probably see the Commander-in-Chief try to use executive orders to govern instead of trying to work with Congress which is going to limit what he or she is able to do,” Belt said. 

Crucially, Congress holds power over government spending. 

“What the government is able to do and what the government is able to fund obviously is absolutely crucial to have control of Congress or to be able to work with Congress,” Belt said.