Who Controls The TDP? Progressives And Establishment Clash Over Chair Race

As progressives gain ground, party leadership faces backlash over attempts to block their momentum.

After the Texas Progressive Caucus endorsed Kendall Scudder for party chair, party leadership moved to block his candidacy, with the general counsel issuing a letter declaring him ineligible under certain conditions. But rather than stepping aside, progressives pushed back hard, launching a petition, mobilizing activists, and accusing leadership of trying to tilt the race in their favor.

Scudder has labeled the move a “blatant power grab,” intensifying the debate over the Party’s direction and leadership. Let’s get into it.

Texas Progressive Caucus endorsed Kendall Scudder.

On March 4, the Progressive Caucus published its endorsement and methodology.

Regarding what aspect of the Democratic Party holds the most political weight in Texas, it’s the Texas Progressive Caucus (TXPC). They have the stats to back it up:

• In 2022, 60% of the candidates endorsed by the TXPC secured their elections.

• This success rate improved in 2024, with 80% of endorsed candidates winning their race for party offices.

The TXPC endorsement carries a lot of weight.

For several years, an ideological battle has occurred within the Texas Democratic Party (TDP): Progressives vs. Moderates, Grassroots vs. Establishment.

Progressives have been winning, and increasingly so since 2020, in the ideological struggle within the Party. At this point, many establishment folks don’t want to admit it, but they lost.

I heard through the grapevine that someone plans to launch a Texas Moderate Caucus this year. We should all wish them well.

The TDP staff lawyer published a letter regarding Kendall’s eligibility.

On March 12, only a week after Scudder’s endorsement by the Texas Progressive Caucus, a letter from the Texas Democratic Party’s general counsel was released, arguing that Scudder is ineligible to serve as party chair due to his elected position on the Dallas Central Appraisal District Board. The letter states that, under party rules, individuals holding federal, state, or county office are prohibited from running for TDP chair.

It’s 13 pages long, but here’s the conclusion:

The General Council says Scudder will not be eligible to become TDP Chair unless he resigns from the Dallas Central Appraisal District Board by March 29 (The SDEC quarterly meeting, when they will vote for an interim Chair).

The argument hinges on whether a Central Appraisal District position is considered a county office, a claim Scudder and his allies reject. The Texas Progressive Caucus, Scudder, and a growing number of SDEC members argue that Central Appraisal Districts are independent political subdivisions, not part of county government, making the rule inapplicable.

The Texas Progressive Caucus pushes back.

On March 13, the TXPC published a response and a petition.

Since 2020, progressives have steadily gained power within the party infrastructure. The Texas Progressive Caucus has become a formidable force, electing more candidates to party leadership and winning ideological battles on the convention floor. The caucus has grown its influence, and the success of progressive organizing has pushed the Party’s agenda further left.

But with power comes resistance. The more the progressives have gained ground, the more the establishment has worked behind the scenes to hold the line. With the biggest prize within reach, the chairmanship, pushback has arrived.

TDP’s Nominations Committee reviewed all candidates in December and found no eligibility issues. The lawyer’s opinion was unsolicited, non-binding, and never put to an SDEC vote. Raising the question: Why now?

You can see the Progressive Caucus’ petition here.

Here was the statement issued by Clayton Tucker, President of the Progressive Cacus, last night:

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“This matter extends beyond a single candidate; it is about democracy. Our democracy in government has been replaced by oligarchy, and backroom deals have governed our Party for far too long. We’re at a crossroads between letting the people vote and continued backroom deals – between democracy or oligarchy.”

“The SDEC is the elected body that is supposed to represent the grassroots of the Texas Democratic Party. The SDEC asked its Nomination Committee to create a slate of candidates, which it did with the advice from counsel that all candidates were eligible (including Kendall). The sudden reversal of opinion of the TDP General Counsel is not binding, and it is wrong – literally. Labeling the Dallas Central Appraisal District incorrectly as the “Dallas County” Appraisal District suggests that the General Counsel has been intentionally misinformed. CADs are independent, nonpartisan political subdivisions of the state, not part of county government.

“For a long time, the SDEC has been treated as a rubber stamp to approve backroom deals. Though we inch closer to bringing popular democracy into the Party, backroom deals continue to try to hinder us. The SDEC will not let our authority to represent the grassroots be taken away from us any longer.”

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Kendall Scudder responds.

On March 14, I contacted Scudder for his response to the TDP lawyer’s letter. Here’s what he sent me:

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“Hinojosa’s lawyer can twist his fundamental misunderstanding of political subdivisions all he wants to, but that doesn’t make it true. No reasonable, informed person believes that a local appraisal district is a county office—because it isn’t, and state law makes that very clear. This is another attempt of the establishment to put their thumbs on the scale to deny the grassroots and the worker-bees of our Party the right to pick their next chairman, and we aren’t going to stand for it.”

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Tensions have been simmering for over a decade between the grassroots progressive wing and the establishment moderates who have traditionally held power. For a long time, the Texas Democratic Party has been run by institutionalists, the old guard who believe that playing it safe, working within the system, and sticking to a moderate message is the only path to victory in Texas. But election after election, that strategy has produced disappointment, stagnation, and frustration.

While Republicans have maintained their dominance, progressives argue that the TDP has failed to energize voters, build a strong grassroots movement, or invest in the long game of turning Texas blue.

The establishment has fought back every step of the way, attempting to block progressive-backed candidates, stalling reforms, and resisting a full embrace of the grassroots movement that has electrified parts of the Party. The battle over who controls the TDP has played out in state conventions, SDEC meetings, and local Democratic clubs.

Now, if Scudder is forced out on a technicality, it would be a clear message from the establishment: Progressives may have the numbers, but the old guard will still do whatever it takes to hold onto power. If Scudder wins and ascends to the chairmanship, it will be the final confirmation that progressives now run the Texas Democratic Party.

I still don’t have an opinion about who wins (and Scudder isn’t the only progressive candidate). Still, I’m rooting for the Texas Progressive Caucus to cement their movement’s hold on the Party and ensure that Texas Democrats finally break free from the failed strategies of the past.

That shift is already happening.

Whether or not Scudder ultimately becomes chair, progressives have the momentum, the numbers, and the energy. The real question isn’t whether the old guard can stop them now. It’s how long they can hold on before the progressive movement entirely takes over the Texas Democratic Party.

The establishment can stall, but they can’t stop what’s coming.

• June 2: The 89th Legislative Session ends.

• June 3: The beginning of the 2026 election season.

• Click here to find out what Legislative districts you’re in.

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