The Tea Party, which styles itself as a grass-roots organization, has mobilized conservative activists against incumbent Democrats and helped foment the anti-establishment narrative that has dominated media accounts of the election.

“When people are angry about the economy, they turn out the people in power,” said Lawrence S. DiCara ’71, a local politician and former Boston city councillor. “That’s what’s happening. It doesn’t mean they’re going to do anything magical, but now the Republicans own it. Good luck to them.”

As The Crimson went to press, the Republican party had gained control of the House but it remained unclear exactly how many seats they would claim from Democrats. It seemed unlikely they would reclaim control of the Senate.

Regardless of the magnitude of the Republican’s gains, the election will have serious consequences on Obama’s legislative ambitions.

“Whether the Republicans pick up 45 or 55 seats, the Democratic domestic agenda is pretty much dead for the next two years,” said Harvard Kennedy School Lecturer David King. “President Obama will have to focus on world politics—China on Russia and other areas where Congress won’t have as much say.”

With a Republican majority in the House, Obama will have no choice but to trim his sails to the prevailing political winds, according to Porter. But, he added, the extent to which Obama will be able to work with Republican leaders will depend on two things: the state of the economy when Congress reconvenes and what type of working relationship he is able to establish with Congressional leaders.

With yesterday’s voting, Republicans have gained control of the House but it remains unclear whether newly elected Republicans will be able to work well with the Republican establishment or whether internal divisions will lead to a lack of party unity.

“The big question mark moving forwards is whether or not the Tea Party and the Republican party establishment will be able to coalesce around a set of issues and desired outcomes that are consistent with where they are coming from,” said Timothy P. McCarthy ’93, a Kennedy School adjunct lecturer and director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy.

—Noah S. Rayman contributed to the reporting of this article.

—Staff writer Elias J. Groll can be reached at egroll@fas.harvard.edu.