The Austin Bulldog: Reporting Highlights Tip of the Iceberg Concerning Chairman Scudder’s Alleged Misreporting of Campaign Finance with Potential Legal Ramifications
Texas Democrats Deserve Transparency, Accountability, & Ethical Leadership from the Texas Democratic Party — All Three Qualities Are What TDP Chair Candidate Marco Orrantia is Running On — Incumbent TDP Chairman Kendall Scudder Lacks All Three Qualities
Austin — Jun 6, 2026 — Recent reporting by The Austin Bulldog (“Finances a flashpoint in Democrats' leadership fight - The Austin Bulldog” & “Sworn complaint filed against Texas Democratic Party chair - The Austin Bulldog”) has raised serious questions about the financial management and transparency of the Texas Democratic Party under Chairman Kendall Scudder. Scudder’s opponent for reelection, Chair Candidate Marco Orrantia, believes the allegations outlined in the article are deeply troubling and demand answers from party leadership.
“If these allegations are accurate, they represent a profound breach of trust and a failure of the transparency that Democrats expect from their leaders,” Orrantia said.
Among the most concerning revelations is a statement attributed to former TDP Operations Director Xaq Webb, who wrote: "The notion that such debt might be hidden from the TEC [Texas Ethics Commission] and FEC [Federal Election Commission] reports is very realistic to me. On May 20, 2025, I attempted to report the full amount due to (attorney) Chad Dunn in the following GPAC report, but was cursed at… dragged into a meeting with… Chair Scudder… and where, over my objections and under threat of termination, I was instructed… to report only four months of debt ($20,200) instead of the full $136,000-plus… My reason for objecting was precisely what happened with this TEC complaint, that any member of the public with campaign finance knowledge could determine it was false."
“Our party cannot afford crooked dealings, sketchy behavior, or any appearance that financial reporting requirements are being manipulated or ignored,” Orrantia continued. “Democrats rightly hold Republicans accountable when they violate ethical standards, and we must hold ourselves accountable to the same standards.
“Texas Democrats deserve leadership that is transparent, accountable, and honest with party members, donors, volunteers, and the public. The integrity of our party and this upcoming November are too important to be compromised by allegations of financial mismanagement or efforts to conceal liabilities.
“The delegates who will choose the future leadership of the Texas Democratic Party at the Texas Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi, June 25-27, deserve complete answers regarding these allegations before casting their votes. Restoring trust requires transparency and accountability. The Texas Democratic Party must be an organization that reflects the values we ask voters to trust us with every election cycle.”
The four pillars of Orrantia’s campaign for Chair are:
Service Over Self
Marco does not fight the good fight for revenge or ego; he leads because the mission of electing Texas Democrats demands a leader who puts the team first.
Battle-Tested Experience
Marco brings 15 years of hard-fought campaign experience and knows exactly where the state party's infrastructure and operations break down, how to fix them, and how to prioritize. He will ensure a smooth transition without requiring any on-the-job training.
*Accountability & Empowerment
In building an honorable, ethical party with integrity, Marco shall hold himself and party leadership accountable and empower local leaders, county parties, and grassroots organizers.
**Transparency & True Collaboration
When sunlight shines on internal processes and is paired with effective work across allied and party organizations, rather than just dictating from Austin or Dallas, Marco will build trust among the Democratic coalition that thinks the state party is failing, ineffective, or irrelevant. The process is as important as the cause.
(Note: Please pay special attention to the second-to-last* and last** pillars when it comes to the “Transparency, Accountability, & Ethical Leadership” that Texas Democrats deserve.)
More Information
Marco for Y’all - Orrantia for Chair is the official campaign for Marco Orrantia for Texas Democratic Party Chair. For general information, visit https://marcoforyall.com, where you can find Marco’s campaign themes of Service Over Self, Battle-Tested Experience, Accountability & Empowerment, and Transparency & True Collaboration;
more about Marco (https://marcoforyall.com/about);
issues such as his Vision & Plans, Electoral Strategy & The Path To Victory, and What This Campaign Is (https://www.marcoforyall.com/issues);
Media Contact
Jordan Bowen, Campaign Manager, Marco for Y’all - Orrantia for Chair
jordan@marcoforyall.com
(281) 813-6990
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