Scott Colom (Photo from Colom's Facebook page)
- Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom claims a “data center bailout” is driving up power bills. However, an Entergy spokesperson said Monday that rates are projected to be lower than they otherwise would have been by 2030 because of data center growth.
Scott Colom, the Mississippi Democrat running for U.S. Senate, shared a video this week where he claims “the average Entergy household in Mississippi is paying about $10.60 more every month because of the data center bailout, about $127 a year.”
“Mississippi families shouldn’t be asked to foot the bill for somebody else’s AI data center,” said Colom, who has called for a pause on data center construction. “These projects can drive up costs and put pressure on our power grid, water and infrastructure. If it’s coming to our communities, Mississippians deserve a real say.”
However, Entergy Mississippi disputes Colom’s claims. A spokesperson told Magnolia Tribune Monday evening that Entergy Mississippi customers are benefitting from data centers, not subsidizing them.
“Our Fair Share Plus pledge ensures that data center customers pay their fair share by fully funding their infrastructure needs, plus providing additional benefits for customers,” the spokesperson said.
As a direct result of new data center revenues, Entergy pointed to the Mississippi Public Service Commission’s approval of a rate plan this summer that prevented what otherwise would have been a $4.87 per month increase in July, compared to June.
“Eliminating that increase is helping to keep Entergy Mississippi’s residential rates below the national average,” the company spokesperson said. “Rates are also projected to be lower than they otherwise would have been by 2030 because of data center growth.”
Colom has sought to capitalize on the growing national narrative against the U.S. data center build out as the November midterm General Election nears.
The Democrat issued a press release in September attempting to hit his Republican opponent, incumbent U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, over “major pro-AI Super PAC” Leading the Future’s ad campaign backing GOP Senate candidates.
“Cindy says families should come first. So, why won’t she protect Mississippi families from paying for data center power upgrades? Maybe it has something to do with the pro-AI data center super PAC spending millions to help her campaign that she pretended to not know anything about,” Colom said last week.
The talking points from Colom are similar to those from other Democrat candidates and left-wing groups this election cycle.
A Fox News report in September noted how “some experts are sounding the alarm on the various left-wing groups and climate activists who are pouring money and resources into data center opposition campaigns.”
“Several left-wing organizations backing data center opposition have benefited from major progressive funding networks, including Public Citizen, which has listed George Soros’ Open Society Foundations among foundations whose ‘generous support’ makes its work possible, and the Sierra Club, which received $3.6 million from Arabella Advisors’ Sixteen Thirty Fund between 2014 and 2022,” Fox News reported. “CodePink, which has targeted data center projects, has received funding linked to socialist megadonor Neville Roy Singham, who has deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Fox News Digital previously reported that Singham funneled roughly $285 million into six activist nonprofits, as the U.S. and China battle for global AI dominance.”
Colom’s ties to the Soros family are well documented. Colom has taken significant money from the liberal financier Soros, his family and his related political committees.
When Colom ran for Lowndes County District Attorney in 2015, Soros was the sole reported donor to the Mississippi Safety & Justice PAC. That PAC made over $700,000 in expenditures in support of Colom’s bid for District Attorney during this first campaign, according to paperwork filed with the Secretary of State. Then, after his announced run for U.S. Senate in September 2025, Alex Soros hosted a New York fundraiser for Colom.
Colom has repeatedly sought to distance himself from the Soros donations and the more progressive activists in the Democrat Party.
Fox News went on to report that “several of the groups actively involved in fueling anti-ICE protests and ‘No Kings’ protests across the country are also involved in pushing back against data centers.”
Colom has appeared at ‘No Kings’ protests in Mississippi, dating back to October 2025 at the Mississippi Capitol.
As previously reported, the nationwide events are organized by a vast network of progressive organizations that partnered under the banner of ‘No Kings’ to host protests against President Donald Trump. The views of protestors at the events run the gamut of leftwing talking points, ranging from chants of “Free Palestine” to wanting to defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in favor of open borders to pushing LGBTQIA+ and trans acceptance.
Soros’ Open Society has also been tied to the operational funding behind the groups organizing the ‘No Kings’ protests. FoxNews reported that “the Open Society Foundation has awarded $7.61 million in grants to the group behind the ‘No Kings’ protest.” FoxNews identified that group receiving the grants as Indivisible.
Colom and Hyde-Smith will face off on the November 3 General Election ballot along with independent candidate Ty Pinkins. Absentee voting is now open ahead of the midterm election at Circuit Clerk offices around Mississippi.
