House Republicans will need to break a streak to retain the chamber in the 2026 midterm elections, though history is working against them.

A sweeping US tax and spending bill has overcome days of Republican conflict to advance through a key committee and move one step closer to a full vote in the House. Four hard-line Republican congressmen - who had previously torpedoed progress due to concerns the cuts were not deep enough to reduce the national debt - allowed the bill to go forward on Sunday night.