On July 2, 2026, Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) accused Republicans of "stealing" two Supreme Court seats in 2016 and 2020 during an appearance on MS NOW. Markey called for expanding the Supreme Court by four seats, increasing the total number of justices from nine to 13. He stated this expansion would restore what he described as the rightful seven-to-six majority.

Markey emphasized that such a change could be achieved through statutory action without requiring a constitutional amendment, saying, "And we have to fight for that, and we can do that statutorily. It does not require a constitutional amendment. That has to be at the top of the agenda. And that's what I'm talking to my colleagues about right now."

The discussion comes amid heightened political debate following the Supreme Court's recent 6-3 decision to uphold birthright citizenship, rejecting former President Donald Trump's effort to end it.

Democratic strategist James Carville previously advocated in April for an aggressive approach to court reform if Democrats regain control of Congress in November. Similarly, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated that "everything was on the table" regarding the court.

Markey also suggested that if Democrats win the presidency and both houses of Congress, they should immediately make Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., states and expand the Supreme Court to 13 justices, declaring, "F--- it. Eat our dust."

He further criticized the current court majority, referring to it as a "corrupt MAGA majority issuing political opinions designed to bolster the prospects of the Republican Party," and vowed opposition to their success.

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