The increasingly unpopular Tea Party may be losing support among Republicans, but there is one thing it is not losing: power. The hardline conservative faction, which has seen its favorable opinion plummet across the board, has demonstrated just how influential it still is among Republicans in Congress.

An October report by Pew Research revealed that the group’s image was taking a major hit among Republicans, as well as Democrats and Independents. In 2013 alone (June to October), the Tea Party’s favorability ratings among Republicans dropped 62 percent to 53 percent. The group saw a similar drop among Democrats (20 percent to 13 percent) and Independents (38 percent to 30 percent).

However, October’s partial government shutdown proved that despite falling favorability ratings, the Tea Party wields considerable power in Washington. Tea Party darling Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, may have failed to cripple Obamacare with the shutdown, but the group’s fight against the president’s health care law is far from over.

Several congressional Republicans will be up for reelection during next year’s midterm election. Republicans, who are vying for control of the Senate, will face a large threat from Tea Party candidates. That threat could, as in past elections, cost them the Senate.

Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, told the Washington Post that independent groups funding Tea Party candidates are “really undermining everything we’re trying to do here.” Hatch added that the best strategy to bring about conservative victories is by defeating Democrats. “You can’t do it by destroying sitting [GOP] senators,” Hatch said to the Post.

However, those supporting Tea Party candidates say they’re doing so to provide the best opponents against Obama and Democrats. Hardline conservatives will particularly look to destroy the bipartisan budget that was announced on Tuesday by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

The agreement is set to ease spending cuts by nearly $63 billion over two years and reduce the deficit by $23 billion, Bloomberg reported. The deal would put a stop to a three-year cycle of fiscal standoffs and avoid another government shutdown when funding authority ends Jan. 15.

According to Bloomberg, the budget plan would place U.S. spending at nearly $1.01 trillion for this year. Defense spending would be set at $520.5 billion, while non-defense spending would be set at $491.8 billion. The bipartisan budget plan is scheduled to be considered by the Republican-led House this week. The proposed budget is not likely to receive much support from Tea Party conservatives, and, because it is an ordinary bill, it could be subject to yet another Ted Cruz filibuster.

Should the Tea Party overtake Republicans during the midterm elections, it could spell disaster for the GOP, as well as any future budget negotiations.