Deon Tedder

Deon Tedder
Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 42nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2024
Preceded byMarlon Kimpson
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 109th district
In office
November 9, 2020 – January 9, 2024
Preceded byDavid Mack
Succeeded byTiffany Spann-Wilder
Personal details
Born (1990-04-26) April 26, 1990 (age 34)
Durham, North Carolina
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materSouth Carolina State University (B.A.)
University of South Carolina School of Law (J.D.)
ProfessionAttorney

Deon T. Tedder is an American attorney and politician. He is a member of the Democratic party.[1]

Political career

Tedder is a member of the South Carolina Senate representing District 42. Tedder serves on the Senate Judiciary, Fish Game and Forestry, Family and Veterans' Services, Corrections and Penology and Medical Affairs Committees.[2]

2020 House of Representatives Election

See also: 2020 South Carolina House of Representatives election

In June 2020, Tedder defeated Jeff Wilder in the Democratic Primary and James Johnson in the Primary runoff. He defeated Libertarian Rodney Travis in the general election and became a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives representing District 109 until 2024.[3][4]

He served on the House Education and Public Works Committee and the Operations and Management Committee [5] and as Treasurer of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus.[6]

Tedder had a bill passed supporting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs),[7] and supported clean energy and electric vehicle technology.[8] He opposed a bail reform bill, which he said would create 'a violation of due process'.[9]

Tedder joined House members Todd Rutherford and Roger Kirby in forming the Freedom Caucus of South Carolina, in contrast to the conservative SC Freedom Caucus.[10]

2023 State Senate Election

See also: 2023 United States state legislative elections

On March 12, 2023, Tedder announced his intention to run for the South Carolina Senate District 42 seat, vacated by Marlon Kimpson after Kimpson's appointment to a role in the Biden Administration.[11] The seat would be decided in a special election in 2023.[12] Endorsements that Tedder received in his race for the Senate seat included Conservation Voters of South Carolina[13] and former South Carolina District 42 Senator Marlon Kimpson.[14]

The Democratic primary took place on September 5.[15] Other candidates in the primary were State Representatives JA Moore and Wendell Gilliard. Moore was bested by Gilliard and Tedder, who faced each other in a primary runoff.[16][17]

On September 19, Tedder, who had been endorsed by SC Congressman Jim Clyburn,[18] led the runoff by 11 votes, triggering a recount.[19] The recount was conducted and results certified by the Charleston County Board of Canvassers and the Dorchester County Voter Registration and Elections Office on September 21; later that day Tedder was declared the winner by the South Carolina State Election Commission.

Tedder won against Republican Rosa Kay in a special election held on November 7, 2023.[20] He is currently the youngest member of the South Carolina Senate.[21][22]

2024 State Senate Election

In March 2024 Tedder filed for re-election to the South Carolina Senate. He faced challenger Kim Greene in the Democratic Primary.[23] Tedder defeated Greene and went on unopposed to retain his Senate seat.[24]

References

  1. ^ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  2. ^ "Senate Standing Committees". South Carolina Legislature. 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  3. ^ "Deon Tedder". Ballotpedia. 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  4. ^ "2020 Statewide General Election, Election Night Reporting, STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DISTRICT 109". South Carolina Election Commission. June 30, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  5. ^ "Representative Deon T. Tedder". South Carolina Legislature. 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  6. ^ "Members". South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus. 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  7. ^ Flowers, Marcus (February 14, 2022). "Representative Deon Tedder's 'HBCU Day' bill to be signed into law". WACH 57. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  8. ^ Larsen, Dory (February 17, 2023). "Putting South Carolina State Decision Makers in the Driver's Seat". Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  9. ^ Thompson, Alexander (March 1, 2023). "SC House passes bail reform to stop what it calls 'revolving door' for criminals". The Post and Courier. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  10. ^ Williams, Lee (March 7, 2023). "Three legislators create "Freedom Caucus of South Carolina," members say caucus with similar name not doing its job". WOLO-TV. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  11. ^ Smalls, Sydaija (March 13, 2023). "SC State Senator Marlon Kimpson joining the White House". ABC 4 news. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  12. ^ Miller, Lindsay (March 12, 2023). "SC Rep. Deon Tedder to run for Senate District 42". Countonnews2.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  13. ^ Kayanja, Ian (July 26, 2023). "Conservation Voters of South Carolina endorse Deon Tedder in pivotal SC Senate District 42 race". WCIV-TV. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  14. ^ Kayanja, Ian (July 11, 2023). "Former state Senator Marlon Kimpson endorses Deon Tedder in SC District 42 senate race". WCIV-TV. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  15. ^ "State Senate District 42 Special Election". South Carolina State Election Commission. June 21, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  16. ^ Kayanja, Ian (September 5, 2023). "SC Senate District 42 Democratic primary heads to run-off between Gilliard and Tedder". WCIV-TV. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  17. ^ Alexander Thompson, and Kenna Coe (September 5, 2023). "Gilliard, Tedder headed to runoff in Charleston-area state Senate primary". The Post and Courier. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  18. ^ Kayanja, Ian (September 16, 2023). "Congressman Clyburn endorses Tedder ahead of SC Senate District 42 Democratic primary runoff". WCIV-TV. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  19. ^ Renaud, Tim (September 19, 2023). "Deon Tedder leads SC Sen. District 42 runoff by 11 votes; recount likely". WCBD-TV. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  20. ^ Coe, Kenna (September 21, 2023). "Deon Tedder declared winner with 11-vote lead in Senate 42 Democratic primary runoff". The Post and Courier. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  21. ^ "Deon Tedder to become youngest South Carolina state senator with special election victory". The Grio. Associated Press. November 11, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  22. ^ Rhodes, Christopher (November 14, 2023). "AT 33, DEON TEDDER WILL BECOME SOUTH CAROLINA'S YOUNGEST STATE SENATOR". Blavity. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  23. ^ Kayanja, Ian (March 18, 2024). "State Sen. Tedder officially files for full-term reelection in Senate District 42". WCIV-TV. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  24. ^ "Election Night Reporting". www.enr-scvotes.org. Retrieved 2024-11-08.