Thirty-six Texas Democrats are urging Kendall Scudder to forgo re-election as chair of the Texas Democratic Party, citing operational failures and a hostile work environment under his leadership. The group includes a congressional candidate, a former Texas House member, and former party staffers who signed an open letter published by The Texas Tribune on April 17, 2026.
The letter states the party makes bold promises to voters and candidates but cannot answer basic questions about strategy, describing an organization that speaks of urgency yet fails to act and asks for trust and money it has not earned. Signatories called on Scudder to step aside with urgency and deep frustration, stating the Texas Democratic Party cannot afford another four years of operational failure.
The letter reflects ongoing discontent following changes made by Scudder, including decentralizing the party’s base from Austin and overhauling staff positions, which contributed to internal upheaval last fall. Among the signers are the Rev. Frederick Haynes III, identified as the likely successor to U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in Texas’ 30th Congressional District, and former state Rep. Mark Stiles, who represented East Texas from 1983 to 1999. Eleven former staffers were listed only by their vacated Texas Democratic Party positions, and one signed as a House “political professional” due to concerns about professional or legal repercussions. The Texas Tribune verified the identities of the former staffers who signed the letter.
The appeal comes as Democrats gaze ahead to the November elections as a prime opportunity to make gains across the ballot, following strong turnout in the March 2026 primary election and favorable national political trends boosting Democratic energy. Scudder did not provide an on-the-record statement in response to requests from The Texas Tribune and did not reply to two text messages or a call seeking comment on Friday, April 17, 2026.
Some Texas Democrats have defended Scudder’s leadership, describing him as accessible and highlighting positive developments such as a broader statewide party presence and the repayment of a $500,000 debt inherited upon taking office. Angel Viator Smith, chair of the Texas Democratic Party’s Finance Committee, pointed to the primary election results where Democratic turnout exceeded Republican turnout as evidence of effective leadership.
Scudder was elected chair by the party’s governing board in March 2025 after Gilberto Hinojosa resigned following Democratic losses in the 2024 elections. According to party rules, Texas Democrats will select a chair for a four-year term at the state convention in June 2026. The deadline for candidates to file to run for the position is April 24, 2026. As of April 17, 2026, Scudder had not yet filed for re-election, according to the Texas Democratic Party’s candidate tracking page.
The letter details multiple operational shortcomings, including the party’s failure to maintain an up-to-date voter file essential for campaign outreach and inadequate preparation of Democratic voters in Dallas and Williamson counties for the shift from countywide to precinct-based voting on primary election day. Hundreds of voters were turned away from polls in those counties on March 3, 2026, after being unaware that county Republican parties had months earlier compelled a switch to precinct-based voting for both Republican and Democratic voters.
Despite knowing about the voting change for months, the letter states the Texas Democratic Party failed to adequately inform voters, instead forcing the party into reactive damage control. It argues this mismanagement will have consequences extending beyond a single election cycle and asserts that Texas Democrats deserve a leader who anticipates threats, prepares thoroughly, and executes effectively — standards the letter claims Scudder’s leadership has not met.
Dallas County Democratic Party Chair Kardal Coleman acknowledged the difficulty of predicting the impact of the shift to precinct-level voting but noted that county and state Democratic parties collaborated before the election to anticipate challenges and assist voters on March 3. He said the county party successfully lobbied the Dallas County Commissioners Court to allocate $1 million for a voter education campaign about the change. Coleman described Scudder as working around the clock and praised his accessibility and responsiveness to state needs, calling him an effective surrogate for the party’s platform.
After reviewing the full letter and its signers, Coleman stated that the sentiments expressed should not be dismissed, emphasizing that coordination and election preparedness are fundamental responsibilities owed to voters.
The letter too criticized the party’s failure to maintain current voter data, noting little evidence of sustained pressure on the Texas Secretary of State’s office or proactive collaboration with county Democrats to ensure accurate voter rolls and precinct maps. In a prior interview, Texas Democratic Party Executive Director Terri Burke said the outdated voter file resulted from incomplete data provided by the Secretary of State’s office, adding that most of the issue was beyond the party’s control after meeting with the agency to address discrepancies.
Ethan Lipka, the party’s former data director who departed in early February 2026, said county election administrators statewide struggled to upload data to the Secretary of State’s system, characterizing the situation as a clear case where the Secretary of State’s office failed in its responsibilities.
Beyond operational issues, the letter alleges serious workplace concerns, stating that former staffers reported exposure to racism and a hostile work environment that stripped them of core duties. It claims there was deliberate misreporting of debt, forced departures, and replacement of staff with consultants. The letter argues that party leadership has shown a willingness to consolidate power by excluding or replacing individuals who advocate alternative approaches.
Viator Smith maintained that leadership changes would not resolve the underlying concerns, emphasizing that Scudder has traveled across the state to energize the base, that reactions to decentralization have been positive, and that strong primary turnout demonstrates momentum worth preserving.
Renewed reporting on the matter was contributed by Renzo Downey. The Texas Tribune noted in a disclosure that the Texas Secretary of State’s office has been a financial supporter of the outlet, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization funded by member donations, foundations, and corporate sponsors, with the clarification that such support does not influence editorial content.
The original report was first published by The Texas Tribune on April 17, 2026, and is available at their website.
As the April 24, 2026 filing deadline approaches, attention remains on whether additional candidates will enter the race to succeed Scudder as Texas Democratic Party chair, with the final decision to be made at the June 2026 state convention.
For ongoing updates on the Texas Democratic Party leadership race and related developments, readers can consult the party’s official website and trusted news sources covering Texas politics.
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