Public frustration with Congress harms the majority party’s brand and its chances of winning both local and presidential elections.

In the 2016 election cycle, President Obama’s popularity will influence the Democrats’ chances of winning, while Congress’ popularity will be important for the Republican Party, writes David Jones. In new research, he finds that in an era of high polarization in Congress, voter disapproval for the body can harm the electoral chances of the majority party – in this case the GOP – at both the national and the state level.