“We have to fall in love with math,” Senate candidate Scott Colom tells us on this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast. Colom, a Mississippi district attorney, is vying to unseat Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who blocked his nomination to the federal judiciary in 2023. Now, as the cost of living and political corruption have skyrocketed, Colom is making the case that his home state is a worthy investment because of how cheap it is to campaign there—and how close Democrats have come in several recent statewide races.

Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also get listeners caught up on the latest developments in both states that suddenly have to pick replacement Senate nominees. They emphasize Lindsey Graham’s rancid legacy, including his effort to help Donald Trump overturn Georgia’s election in 2020, and note that the GOP could wind up with a substantially weaker candidate. They also explain how Maine Democrats will choose a substitute to take on Susan Collins at a convention later this month.

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