Latest TDP Chair Forum Recap: Who Stood Out And Who Stumbled?

Inside the race for Texas Democratic Party Chair.

The Texas Democratic Party (TDP) Chair forum rolled into DFW yesterday, and since it was right in my backyard, I decided to see the action firsthand. One candidate got called out for alleged shady politics, others delivered inspiring speeches, and the lighting was awful. I live-streamed the whole thing on TikTok, where the comments section was just as entertaining as the forum itself. Let’s get into it.

Here is part one, which the TDP recorded. (The forum starts about 14 minutes in.)

Whoever set the stage decided blasting candidates with bright red lights was a good idea. The result? Every speaker looked like they were delivering their stump speech from the depths of a malfunctioning tanning bed. Screenshots from my TikTok live:

That’s also why the TDP’s recording looked green. 🤣 Laugh at the small stuff.

Here’s part two.

It started with the introductions.

This was the first real moment of confrontation we’ve seen in these forums. When Rev. Steve Miller’s turn came to introduce himself, he prepared a statement.

What is this about? Allegedly, Kendall Scudder was slated to speak at a town hall in East Texas. I even got an email about that on February 8. However, only two days later, another email reminded people of the event and said, “All candidates were invited & only one choose (sic) to come visit with East Texas.”

However, some candidates say they have never been invited to speak in East Texas. Rev. Miller said this event was down the road from his house, and when he talked to Scudder about it, Scudder told him it was “his event” and Miller would not be allowed to speak.

Then, last week, an anonymous TikTok account named @tdp.exposed published two videos seemingly calling out this incident. This account even suggested that Beto O’Rourke never considered running for Chair, but his name was floated to discourage others from running.

The videos:

For the record, this video asked what happened to Monique Alcala. I don’t know if she was missing or in danger, but I saw her at the Chair forum yesterday. So, she’s safe. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This drama is tame compared to the drama in the Republican Party of Texas chair race, but it’s drama nonetheless.

I’ve been getting invites or seeing events happening around the state with Kendall Scudder for months. Not Chair forums, where all the candidates will be, but Scudder’s events to win over the people heavily involved with TDP politics. And there is nothing wrong with that. He’s running for an election. That’s what you do in an election. You get the people who will be voting to like you, in this case, the SDEC (State Democratic Executive Committee).

While speaking to another candidate, I told them to do the same thing. Reach out to the SDEC members, discuss your vision, and get in front of the clubs. They told me that they’ve done that and were told by SDEC members that “it wouldn’t matter since they’ve already decided their vote.”

A word of advice to the SDEC members.

Don’t repeat the same mistakes.

Kendall Scudder is widely considered the front-runner, and that makes sense. He’s experienced, well-connected, and deeply involved in the party. Maybe he is the leader Texas Democrats need. But several other qualified candidates deserve an equal opportunity to share their vision.

In 2022, many at the State Democratic Convention recognized the need for new leadership, yet some SDEC members endorsed Chair Hinojosa for re-election, mainly out of personal loyalty. We all saw how that played out.

This isn’t a knock on Scudder. Rather, it’s a reminder to evaluate all candidates on their ideas, strategies, and ability to move the party forward. Not just on friendships. Maybe Scudder is the best choice. Maybe he’s not. But every candidate deserves a fair shot.

Texas Democrats don’t have another two years to throw away. So much pressure.

Back to the forum.

What was said?

When Rev. Miller seemingly called Kendall Scudder out, you could hear the murmurs in the crowd. That wasn’t the only time that Miller got an unexpected reaction.

The moderator asked, “Some don’t know that messaging on the environment can incorporate labor and the economy. How will you make sure that all environmental issues are not taking a backseat?”

Miller opened his response with, “I don’t think the environment is a winning issue for us.”

The gasps in the crowd were audible. He talked about how we should be messaging on kitchen table issues, but as most of you know, and as the question implied, the environment is a kitchen table issue.

Check it out:

All of the videos below are short (less than two minutes).

Lone Star Left’s official position on this: In the US alone, the health costs of air pollution and climate change far exceed USD 800 billion annually. The climate crisis impacts inflation, increases health costs, and causes mass migration. It may already be too late for humanity and our planet, but in the slim chance we won’t go extinct by the end of this century, the environment should be the number one most important kitchen table issue.

As far as messaging goes, the TDP should be connecting the dots:

• The physical risks of climate change could reduce corporate profits by 5% to 25% by 2050.

• Without decisive action, global GDP could be up to 22% lower by 2100 compared to a scenario with effective climate measures.

This study shows that global warming raises the unemployment rate through the inflation rate, agricultural production, and urbanization.

I digress.

Delia Parker-Mims gave a solid response about environmental messaging, saying that Democrats shouldn’t shy away from the issue. We just need to talk about it in a way that makes sense to everyday Texans.

If there was one consistent theme from the audience reactions, it was this: Democrats are tired of playing defense. They want leadership that will go on the offensive.

One refreshing moment came from Patsy Woods Martin, who got straight to the point. Texas Democrats have a messaging problem.

And she’s absolutely right.

Texas Democrats must start defining themselves loudly, clearly, and unapologetically.

Because if they don’t? The right-wing machine will keep defining them, and we all know how that ends.

Another stand-out moment was when Lillie Schecter spoke about her experience as Harris County Democratic Party Chair.

Schechter’s example of Lina Hidalgo was powerful. Hidalgo walked into the Harris County Democratic Party office in 2017, ready to run but unsure for which position. Nobody then thought a Democrat could flip the Harris County Judge seat. But Schechter and her team saw potential and backed Hidalgo. The rest is history. She won and has been a force ever since.

(I absolutely love Lina Hidalgo. She is exactly the kind of bold, progressive leadership Texas needs.)

If the Texas Democratic Party wants to stop losing statewide, it must apply this strategy everywhere. It must find more Lina Hidalgos and ensure it has everything it needs to win.

Kendall Scudder gave a full-throated defense of public schools and working people. Whether you agreed or not, the audience ate it up. You could tell Scudder was deeply passionate about these issues.

This was one of the most fiery, populist moments of the forum. And honestly, it worked. The audience loved it because it tapped into something real.

The road to March 29.

The Texas Democratic Party is at a crossroads, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The SDEC will vote on an interim chair on March 29, but between now and then, there will be several more forums where candidates will make their case.

And that case needs more than just experience or connections. It needs to be about a vision for the future.

Who has the fundraising ability to keep the party alive?

Who has the organizing strategy to rebuild from the ground up?

Who has the messaging skills to actually win over Texas voters?

And most importantly, who has the courage to lead?

Time is running out.

For years, Texas Democrats have been one cycle away from turning the state blue. Yet somehow, the same problems keep holding them back.

The voters are there. The issues are there. The energy is there.

But the party risks repeating history unless the next Chair is bold enough to fight, has the strategy to mobilize, and has the leadership to unify.

The SDEC has a choice to make. Let’s hope they make the right one.

• March 14: The last day Legislators can file bills.

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