“It would have been nice if something strong could have been done on the wall before the election,...
I agree. Acting now can only help in November.
“If the Democrats take the House, nothing will be done on the wall.”
The new Congress would not be seated until January, and the lame duck session still has to pass the FY19 Appropriation Bill for the Department of Homeland Security.
So something will likely get done. But whatever happens in the election will likely effect how much. The low is $1.6 Billion, currently authorized by the Senate, and the high is the $5 Billion authorized by the House - they have not yet reconciled a final Appropriation.
The absolute worst case is that the Dems win the House, and Repubs boldly pull an active double cross, and just pass a continuing resolution to fund until the Congress is seated. There would be hell to pay with the President.
Realistically, I think that worst case will be $1.6 billion passed in November, even if the Dems take the House.
Most likely, I think that the existing Republican House and Senate will increase the wall funding in November above $1.6, likely to $5 Billion, regardless of who wins the House.
$5 Billion up front, before a new Congress is seated, would cover the Trump Administration through two extra years at the baseline $1.6/year. It would be a way insure against the Dems halting wall construction, if they do win the House, by paying two extra years up front.