Scoop: Schatz notches 10th whip endorsement

• Baldwin is the 10th Senate Democrat to endorse Schatz since he announced his bid in April.

Between the lines: Another woman representing a Midwest state — Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) — has been seen as a possible whip contender but has so far remained on the sidelines.

• Klobuchar said in April that it was a "mistake" for Democrats to focus on the race to replace Durbin over a year out from the election.

The big picture: Schatz, meanwhile, has been growing his support among Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) top lieutenants. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) — who, along with Baldwin, is a member of Schumer's leadership roster — has also endorsed Schatz.

• Booker and Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-Nv.) and Mark Kelly (D-Az.) are part of an internal whip team working to help Schatz win the nomination.
• Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the current Senate Democratic whip, is retiring next year.

• Schatz also serves as Durbin's chief deputy whip this Congress, a subtle change that caught the eye of Senate insiders earlier this year.

What they're saying: "Brian listens to his colleagues, knows how to build consensus, and gets that to deliver for working families, our caucus needs to be united," Baldwin said of Schatz in a statement to Axios.

• "He has been a key part of the Whip team and fully understands how to leverage the in-the-weeds aspect of this job so we can do our job: fight for our constituents and give them the opportunity to live a healthy, safe, secure life," Baldwin continued.