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= Kendall Scudder = Born February 23, 1990, Kendall Scudder is an American politician, activist, and public figure who became the first millennial nominated for the Texas Senate when he secured the Democratic nomination for Texas Senate, District 2 on March 6, 2018. Scudder currently serves on the Texas State Democratic Executive Committee.

Scudder is best known for his populist political views and his advocacy for public schools, redistricting reform, equal rights, and the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Early life
Born in Texarkana, Texas to Ronald and Melissa Scudder, Kendall began his elementary years in New Boston, Texas. Upon the divorce of his parents, Kendall, his mother Melissa, and his sister Caitlyn moved to Greenville, Texas and then Sulphur Springs, Texas alongside his mother’s partner, April McGuffey. Kendall’s upbringing in a home with same-sex parents significantly impacted his progressive, populist political ideology.

Scudder began organizing for the Democratic Party as a teenager and, upon graduation from Sulphur Springs High School, attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas where he received his BA in Political Science.

Campaigns
Following a contentious redistricting debate in Huntsville, Texas, Scudder first ran for office at the age of 22 seeking an at-large position on the Huntsville City Council in November 2012. Following a defeat via recount, Scudder ran unsuccessfully for Huntsville City Council twice more in 2013 and 2014 in races involving razor thin margins and mandatory recounts.

Scudder’s decision to seek a position in the Texas Senate made him the youngest nominee for the state senate since Temple Lea Houston, the son of Texas President and governor, Gen. Sam Houston, in 1885. Scudder was endorsed by the Dallas Morning News, the Texas State Firefighters Association, the Texas Sierra Club, Equality Texas, the American Federation of Teachers, Texas Parent PAC, the Texas AFL-CIO, and republican former state senator Dr. Bob Deuell. Scudder was the first state senate candidate to openly call for the legalization of recreational marijuana, non-partisan redistricting committees, and a constitutional amendment to ban school vouchers.

Following an incident of alleged Russian hacking of his campaign website, Scudder’s campaign gained notoriety as the first state-level campaign to be breached by Russian hackers.

Scudder was defeated by incumbent senator Bob Hall (politician) of Edgewood in the 2018 midterm general election on November 6, 2018.