Sahil Kapur

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is asking for an update from Sen. Mitch McConnell: “As Governor, I request that you fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health.”

Rep. Ro Khanna, who has campaigned for Platner in Maine, withdraws his endorsement and tells him to drop out:

PLATNER SAYS HE’S DROPPING OUT of the Maine Senate race: “We believe that for the movement to continue, it can’t be me. And for that reason, we are suspending campaign operations,” he says in a video message tonight.

Fox News poll: Which political party -- the Democrats or the Republicans -- do you think would do a better job on immigration?

50% say Democrats
49% say Republicans

*Quite* a turnaround after Dems got destroyed on immigration politics in 2024; it is (was?) Trump’s best issue.

New from Bernie Sanders: “I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine. In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.”

Schumer/Gillibrand: “The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable.

“Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw… The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”

🚨 New from McCONNELL: "I took a fall which landed me in the hospital."

“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages. But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital."

Pelosi is a YES on the Massie amendment cutting US aid to Israel: “The American people are rightly demanding an end to a perpetual cycle of war, and the Netanyahu gov’t cannot maintain its current course. Therefore, while this amendment is ill-conceived, I vote yes for the message that it sends.”

Nirav Shah drops out: “I am suspending my campaign for the United States Senate today and endorsing Troy Jackson. Susan Collins, Donald Trump, and Senate Republicans are banking on disunity and frustration from Maine Democrats to try and win this seat, and we are not going to give them that.”

Shenna Bellows drops out of Maine’s Senate Democratic race. This move comes after she failed to impress in the recent debate and as Troy Jackson jumps to a big advantage with delegate selection.

Elizabeth Warren just endorsed Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate primary.

NEW: Trump’s primetime speech fails to unlock votes to pass the SAVE America Act

Did it change the Senate dynamic?

“No,” CORNYN tells NBC News. “We don’t have the votes.”

TILLIS: “Not at all.”

www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...

Trump’s primetime speech fails to unlock votes to pass the SAVE America Act

The speech didn’t fundamentally change the dynamic, multiple Republican senators on both ends of the debate told NBC News.

Mike Johnson, asked about Maine shooting by ICE officer, says he hasn’t been briefed and doesn’t know much: “I know that there was a tragic shooting. And I’m not going to comment on it because I don’t know. And you guys can mock me for not knowing that. I worked about 22 hours in the last few days.”

Dan Kleban also drops out of the Maine Senate race, saying it has “become clear from the county nominating meetings that we lack a path forward.” He says he will “do whatever I can between now and November to help Troy Jackson finally achieve that goal” of beating Susan Collins.

Reply to @sahilkapur.bsky.social

Troy Jackson responds to Susan Collins:

New Fox News national poll

• Trump’s job rating: 39% approve, 61% disapprove

• Trump’s issue approval is 33% on the economy, 27% on inflation, 34% on Iran, 42% on immigration

• Approval ratings for Dems & GOP in Congress are identical at 30/69 each

• Generic ballot: Dem+7

Trump says he hasn’t talked to Mitch McConnell since he was hospitalized: “I have no idea how he’s doing.”

NEW: Government funding situation is a total mess on Capitol Hill

—Collins & Murray publicly sniping, talks hit a wall

—Dems say Trump-GOP $1.5T military ask is crazy

—Iran war hindering D votes on approps, supp, NDAA

—McConnell out, Rs have no Approps majority

www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...

The Iran war and McConnell’s absence are complicating government funding talks

The stalled negotiations are a particular issue for Sen. Susan Collins, who chairs the committee responsible for writing funding bills and faces a tough re-election race in November.

!! Mallory McMorrow drops out of the Michigan Senate primary, leaving a one-on-one contest between Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens. This dramatically changes the dynamic of the race. A must-win seat for Democrats this fall.

Maine Senate: Pine Tree State Poll/UNH

Troy Jackson (D) 49%
Susan Collins (R) 46%

FAVORABLE RATINGS

— Jackson: 37% fav, 32% unfav, 15% neutral, 15% don't know enough

— Collins: 35% fav, 53% unfav, 12% neutral, 0% don't know enough

scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcont...

Lindsey Graham’s office provides an update on his death — new information via the DC Medical Examiner:

MONDAY: Fatal shooting by an ICE officer in Maine

TUESDAY: Collins asks Mullin to cease non-urgent vehicle stops; DHS agrees

WEDNESDAY: Trump says ICE ceasing traffic stops equals “playing right into the criminal’s hands,” wants them reinstated

Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, in WSJ: “As written, the SAVE America Act isn’t a simple fix to safeguard elections, as proponents claim. It would impose costly new barriers and prevent some, perhaps many, from voting, while also creating chaos before the November elections.” www.wsj.com/opinion/why-...

Opinion | Why I’m Voting Against the SAVE America Act

I believe in its objectives, but it’s too draconian, especially for voters in remote parts of Alaska.

NEW: ICE shooting in Maine sparks uproar and puts a spotlight on GOP Sen. Susan Collins

Collins chairs the Appropriations Cmte controlling ICE's budget. She recently backed $70B ICE/CBP $$ without policy restrictions after talks with Dems broke down.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...

ICE shooting in Maine sparks uproar and puts a spotlight on GOP Sen. Susan Collins

Democratic candidates for the expedited Senate primary are pointing to Collins’ vote to fund the deportation agency without policy changes, with some calling to “abolish” ICE.