FEATURED: Kendall Scudder, newly-elected Chair of the Texas Democratic Party, will meet with Rio Grande Valley residents and mainstream and social media journalists on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the McAllen Public Library, located at 4001 North 23rd Street. The event, which will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., will be held in the auditorium. The gathering is free and open to the public.
Photograph Courtesy KENDALL SCUDDER
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Kendall Scudder, new Chair, Texas Democratic Party, to meet with Valley residents and news media journalists at McAllen Public Library from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025
By DAVID A. DÍAZ
[email protected]
Kendall Scudder, newly-elected Chair of the Texas Democratic Party, will meet with Rio Grande Valley residents and news media journalists on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the McAllen Public Library, located at 4001 North 23rd Street.
The event, which will take place from 12:30 p.m to 2 p.m., will be held in the auditorium.
The gathering is free and open to the public.
Other speakers will include:
- Richard Gonzales, Chair of the Hidalgo County Democratic Party
- Michelle Vallejo, candidate for Congressional District 15 in 2022 and 2024
- Sylvia Tanguma, President of the McAllen Chapter of the American Federal of Teachers
- Fred Cady, U.S. military veteran
Additional speakers are also expected to participate.
“We are excited to have Kendall visit us down in South Texas. This shows his commitment to serving all Democrats across the state,” said Gonzales. “We look forward to working with him in the future and marching together towards our common goal – turning Texas blue.”
Since the year 2000, major news media outlets have associated the color blue with Democrats, and red with Republicans.
https://www.theverge.com/2012/11/6/3609534/republicans-red-democrats-blue-why-election
Press availability to interview Scudder and other guest speakers will be from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
For mainstream and social media journalists who wish to interview Scudder before his presentation – or any other speakers – those question and answer sessions must take place immediately outside of the building, as per the rules of the McAllen Public Library.
Mainstream media includes newspapers, television, radio, and more recently the Internet.
Social media is made up of websites, apps, and other platforms that allow users to share information and ideas with virtual communities through text, photos, videos, and more.
However, audio and video recordings as well as photographs of the event may take place in the auditorium during the presentations.
Scudder, the son of a paramedic and corrections officer and a graduate of Sam Houston State University, was chosen as the state Democratic Party’s new leader on March 29, 2025 by the 121-member governing board of the Texas Democratic Party.
He will serve in that capacity until June 2026.
“I am honored to serve as Chair of the Texas Democratic Party,” said Scudder. “The future of this party is bright, the stakes are high, and there’s no better moment right now to get Texas Democrats back in the business of winning tough races. As we do that, we can’t leave any community in this state behind – we need to build a Texas where opportunity is not a privilege, but a promise, for all of us.”
The Texas Democratic Party is the affiliate of the National Democratic Party and one of the two major political parties in the state. It’s headquarters are in Austin.
“Political parties are coalitions of like-minded people who organize to elect candidates and attempt to win control of the government in order to implement their policies. Basically, they are organizations of people who work to win elections,” W. David Griggs, Adjunct Professor at the University of North Texas College of Law explains in his essay, “Political Parties: What They Are, and Why They Matter”, published in the spring of 2024.
https://www.accessiblelaw.untdallas.edu/post/political-parties-what-they-are-and-why-they-matter
“State and national parties recruit candidates to run for office, help them raise money to get elected, and work to get out the vote (GOTV) for their respective races,” Griggs continued. “They also provide grassroots leadership opportunities for thousands of party volunteers eager to help their parties gain and maintain power.”
Scudder succeeds former longtime Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa of Brownsville, who late last year chose not to seek a new term as state party leader.
“The challenge that we’re facing right now is terrifying for this country and for this state, and a lot of people are counting on us to come together and do the right thing and make sure that we are building a Texas Democratic Party that is worthy of the grassroots in this state,” Scudder said upon taking the gavel. “Let’s build a party that the working men and women of this state can be proud of.”
He told the Texas Tribune that he wants to pay attention rural communities, and put a priority on Spanish-language communication.
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/29/texas-democrats-party-chair/
According to his biography on LinkedIn:
Scudder is a principal with Armadilla Strategies, LLC in Dallas, which is a social impact marketing firm specializing in digital engagement and website development for progressive political campaigns.
Founded by former candidates, Armadilla Strategies takes an “outside the DC beltway” approach to political campaigns and works to create unique, innovative messaging for its clients.
Also according to his biography:
- Scudder has extensive experience developing and implementing public, regulatory and government relations strategies and initiatives with in-depth knowledge of the local business, legal and political environments
- He is viewed as a trusted advisor with a successful track record in building and maintaining strong relationships at all levels of a corporate and governmental organization
- Ability to collaborate with diverse groups of colleagues, experience working with a multicultural workforce and sensitivity to and appreciation of cultural differences
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and proven ability to achieve organizational goals while displaying dedication, adaptability and management skills
- A strategic business partner and catalyst for innovative initiatives that address today’s business challenge of attaining revenue goals, controlling expenses, satisfying customers, and attracting/retaining talent while achieving business and profitability objectives
- A reputation for delivering and sustaining revenues within a highly competitive market by aggressively identifying opportunities, developing focus and providing tactical business solutions
- Strong organization, project management and effective multi-tasking skills with demonstrated ability to manage expectations, deliver results, and the necessary drive to enhance organizational reputation through service excellence
- Exceptional leader, motivator, and team builder who is goal-oriented and excels in a fast-paced, high pressure environment
Kendall was one of 10 candidates this year for the position of Chair, Texas Democratic Party. Those candidates were, in alphabetical order:
- Aaron Arguijo, Entrepreneur, Bexar County
- Rabbi Misha ben-David, Retired, Travis County
- Meri Gómez, Taxation and Compliance Consultant, Hidalgo County
- Patsy Woods Martin, Rancher, Dallas County
- Rev. Steve Miller, Non-Profit Executive and Pastor, Rusk County
- Delia Parker-Mims, Attorney, Denton County
- Patricia Olivares, Government Affairs Advocate, Harris County
- Lillie Schechter, Strategic Consultant and Fundraiser, Harris County
- Kendall Scudder, Business Owner, Dallas County
- Darceal Tobey, Self-Employed, IT Technician, Travis County
Journalists and the public may contact Laurel McLeaish at [email protected] or at 956/342-7278 with any questions about this upcoming event. For more on this and other Texas legislative news stories that affect the Rio Grande Valley metropolitan region, please log on to Titans of the Texas Legislature.
