Stephen Sham (fourth right), running for re-election as city council member of Alhambra, held a fundraising party on October 17, weeks before the November 4 election day. Congresswoman Judy Chu, State Assemblyman Ed Chau, and Board of Equalization member and candidate for state controller Betty Yee attended to show their support. Photo: Mao Jianjun

Republicans appear increasingly likely to win back the US Senate in November 4 mid-term elections, a move that would heap misery on President Barack Obama in his final two years in office.

Despite polls showing Democratic gains in some rollercoaster races, the math favors Republicans in their bid to win the six net seats they need to control the Senate.

"It's not going to be a wave election, but it will bring a majority for the Republicans," predicted American University professor James Thurber, who founded and directs the school's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies.

Forecast models by FiveThirtyEight blog and The New York Times say Republicans are between 62 percent and 64 percent favorites to seize the Senate majority. The Washington Post's Election Lab puts Republican chances at 91 percent.

A full Republican takeover of Congress would mean more gridlock and polarization, according to Thurber. Republicans would likely take steps to dismantle or at least stop funding Obamacare, the president's landmark health care reform law.

However, Democrats are not admitting defeat just yet. Incumbents are holding their ground in New Hampshire, as well as in North Carolina, where a flood of money from outside groups is pushing the cost of that single Senate race to a record $100 million.

Complicating the election map, Republicans are vulnerable in traditionally deep red states Kansas and Georgia, both of which are too close to call.

Republicans have had various degrees of success in tarring their rivals as rubber stamps for the president. "In these finals days, the decision Americans face is becoming even clearer: a vote for a Democrat is a vote for the Obama agenda," Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus said.

As for California, over 24 million are eligible to vote this year, but only about three quarters of the eligible are registered to vote. And the number of voters who cast ballots in the upcoming election next week could be under 8 million.

The latest US census statistics shows that the average voter turnout for Asian-Americans during presidential elections is 47.3 percent, lower than those of most other ethnic groups. The Pew research data also indicates that Asian-Americans' voter turnout during 2012 mid-term elections was only 31 percent, compared with 49 percent voter turnout for whites and 44 percent for African-Americans.

Among the many Asian-American candidates participating in November elections are Judy Chu, running to represent California's 27th district in Congress, Ted Lieu, running in the 33rd district and Ed Chau in a race for state assemblyman.

Various organizations, including the Chinese-American Political Action Committee and the Orange Club, have urged Asian-Americans to come out and vote. Only when Asian-Americans vote can they have their voices heard, community leaders say.