Edward Markey

Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., went on offense against independent opponent Dan Osborn in a debate last night, repeatedly calling him “Democrat Dan” throughout their meeting and associating his campaign with democratic socialists.

The debate will be the first of many across the country over the next two months as Democrats and Republicans battle for control of the Senate. Deep-red Nebraska is not usually home to nationally watched campaigns, but Osborn’s one-on-one contest with Ricketts could be closer than typical partisan contests in the state.

Read the full story here.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Republicans will introduce a constitutional amendment today that would mandate a maximum number of nine justices on the Supreme Court.

“If we go down the road of packing the Supreme Court, it turns into a political palooza, and it would not serve the country,” Johnson told reporters on Capitol Hill.

He also told reporters that the current model of nine justices “has served this country for many, many years, and it does not need to change.”

The GOP proposal is unlikely to be successful. It would require support of a two-thirds majority in the House and the Senate.

Some key Democrats have recently called for packing the court, including former Vice President Kamala Harris. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that he agrees with Harris that 13 justices would be a good number.

“We are in a position now that calls for some significant actions taken by the Congress, and we ought to expand,” he said. “And 13 is a pretty good number. A baker’s dozen would be a good number to have on the court.”

Vying to become House speaker in a few months, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., outlined four items on the agenda that he said would enjoy “uniform Democratic support” and advance the party’s goal of “making life more affordable.”

The first two were about healthcare, and all four set a direct contrast with Trump.

Read the full story here.

Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch has defeated a younger, more progressive primary challenger, NBC News projects, in the highest-profile test remaining for House incumbents after a turbulent primary season.

Lynch, 71, won renomination over Patrick Roath, a 39-year-old former aide to former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. With his win, Lynch staved off an attempt to add him to the list of Democratic officeholders dethroned by rivals pushing for generational change.

Read the full story here.

Democratic Sen. Ed Markey defeated Rep. Seth Moulton in the Senate primary in Massachusetts, NBC News projects, in a victory for the party’s progressive wing.

Markey was winning about two-thirds of the vote percentage points with 69% of the expected vote reporting.

Markey’s win comes as other longtime Democratic lawmakers have lost to younger challengers in primaries this year. But the 80-year-old senator fended off his challenger by touting his liberal record as an author of the Green New Deal and vocal supporter of “Medicare for All.”

Read the full story here.