Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder was the keynote speaker for the 2025 Polk County Democratic Summer Celebration fundraiser June 12 at the Polk County Commerce Center. The annual event – first held in 2023 – was co-hosted by the Democratic Club of Polk County and the Polk County Democratic Party.
Scudder was elected Texas Party Chairman in March after a tenure by Gilberto Hinojosa and is meeting with Democrats across the state to energize party members.
“We are so proud to have Chairman Scudder come to Polk County. He has a long history of activism and a deep commitment to long-held Democratic values,” Polk County Democratic Party Chairman Ann Turney said.
“I grew up on a purple hull pea farm in Texarkana with lesbian mommas which means I know how to fight. I started knocking on doors and I’m the only millennial in the country leading a party. We’re going to rethink the way this party operates. We cannot be afraid to do things differently from the way we’ve been doing them – for the little people, for the corporations,” Scudder said. “We’re not just taking punches, we’re throwing them too. We have to offer a message … that we’re fighting for the little people.
“We are patriots who love this country especially since 2016. We didn’t know what Donald Trump was going to do to our country. Who is standing up unapologetically for the people on the front lines?” Scudder asked.
“There are 1.4 million people in Texas who voted in 2020 and chose not to vote in 2024. Of them, 1.1 million were Democrats. There are five major metros and 40 mid-size cities of over 100,000. How do we expect to win elections if we’re not willing to walk in the door?
“I realize that it’s weird to have the new 35-year-old chair telling you we need to go back to the old way … but we’ve got to capture that lightning in a bottle. People are afraid to get off their scripts. What are y’all afraid of? We’re right,” he said.
“There are 9,000 precincts in the state of Texas and only 4,500 have a precinct chair. There are 254 counties and 55, over 20%, have no county chair. You can’t put a sack of flour in the oven and expect it to make biscuits.
“Polk County, you are owed a huge thank you. The trend line is good. It’s because of you. You have left everything on the field and you have worked your ass off and I thank you and want you to know the cavalry is here,” Scudder said.
“However, the fight we’re fighting is not left versus right. It’s top versus bottom. Donald Trump took a soaring economy and turned it into one of the largest transfers of wealth from the bottom to the top. And now he’s gouging people of every social service that they have, gobbling up every penny of the veterans and teachers.
“It’s not just about economics, but understanding the party is going to be talking about it a lot more than we have. What we have to talk about is authoritarianism and government overreach. Ken Paxton is going to be the standard-bearer of the Republican Party next year. I think we’re going to have a lot of good opportunities but we have to work together,” he said.
“There are 18 vacancies of precinct chairs locally. We’re creating an onboarding system to train you, to provide resources for you. I’ve got to earn the grassroots support back for this party. We’ve got to hit the reset button, have a new vision and give small dollars monthly. Just $10 a month to the Texas Democratic Party can make a big difference. I’ve got the chains running from the pickup to the party to pull it out of the ditch.
“I need you to be proud that you are a Democrat. Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, a man on the moon … Democrats did that … the new deal, the great society. Democrats were the last party in this country that gave you a balanced budget.
“When Texas Democrats have our shit together, we do big, bold things that change our country. Big, bold progressive ideas begin in Texas. I think we can do it. I think Texans are scrappy and do our best work when our back is against the wall. I need us to come together, working as a team to win elections and change the country and the world,” Scudder said.
Dick Burr, president of the Democratic Club of Polk County, agreed.
“The people united will never be defeated. If we stay united and keep gathering people, this is a really important step for uniting us here in Polk County,” Burr said, reminding everyone that the club meets the first Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. at Across the Tracks Live Music Venue except for July, when it meets on the second Saturday.
Commenting on what a privilege it has been getting to know him, Club Vice President Carolyn Bischoff presented an appreciation award to Willie White, the outgoing president of the Democratic Club of Polk County, in recognition of and appreciation for his outstanding commitment, dedication and vision as a leader.
“I am so honored to be a native Polk Countian and to have been privileged to start this version of the Democratic movement in Polk County. There have been other Democratic clubs. They have come and gone. My mission for this group is that when I’m dead and … look down or look up … see the Democratic Party of Polk County still going strong,” White said.
