The Senate battleground is expanding less than six weeks before the midterms, with election handicappers moving Kansas, South Carolina, New Hampshire and Minnesota toward more competitive classifications. Cook Political Report shifted Kansas from likely Republican to lean Republican and South Carolina from solid Republican to likely Republican. It also moved New Hampshire from lean Democrat to toss-up, while Minnesota has become highly competitive. RealClearPolitics likewise placed New Hampshire and Minnesota in the toss-up category and moved Kansas toward Democrats. The broader map includes Maine, Iowa, Alaska, Michigan and Ohio, while Georgia and North Carolina are becoming more difficult for Republicans and independent Dan Osborn is challenging Sen. Pete Ricketts in Nebraska. Polling gives Democrats an overall advantage, amid President Trump’s low approval ratings, the Iran war and high gas prices, but Republican candidates in several states are improving the party’s prospects. The newsletter also covers President Trump’s state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the return of CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists to White House grounds after a federal court ruling, rising mortgage and Treasury yields, a failed Senate war-powers resolution, staffing losses at the Department of Justice (DOJ), and signs that Florida’s elections may be becoming competitive again.