Deon Tedder | |
|---|---|
| Member of theSouth Carolina Senate from the 42nd district | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Marlon Kimpson |
| Member of theSouth Carolina House of Representatives from the 109th district | |
| In office November 9, 2020 – January 9, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | David Mack |
| Succeeded by | Tiffany Spann-Wilder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1990-04-26)April 26, 1990 (age 35) Durham, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | South Carolina State University (B.A.) University of South Carolina School of Law (J.D.) |
| Profession | Attorney |
Deon T. Tedder is anAmerican attorney and politician. He is a member of theDemocratic party and Co-Chair of the South Carolina chapter of Future Caucus.[1][2]
Tedder is a member of theSouth 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.[3]
In June 2020, Tedder defeated Jeff Wilder in the Democratic Primary and James Johnson in the Primary runoff. He defeatedLibertarian Rodney Travis in the general election and became a member of theSouth Carolina House of Representatives representing District 109 until 2024.[4][5]
He served on the House Education and Public Works Committee and the Operations and Management Committee[6] and as Treasurer of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus.[7]
Tedder had a bill passed supportinghistorically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs),[8] and supportedclean energy andelectric vehicle technology.[9] He opposed abail reform bill, which he said would create 'a violation ofdue process'.[10]
Tedder joined House membersTodd Rutherford andRoger Kirby in forming the Freedom Caucus of South Carolina, in contrast to the conservative SCFreedom Caucus.[11]
On March 12, 2023, Tedder announced his intention to run for theSouth Carolina Senate District 42 seat, vacated byMarlon Kimpson after Kimpson's appointment to a role in theBiden Administration.[12] The seat would be decided in a special election in 2023.[13] Endorsements that Tedder received in his race for the Senate seat included Conservation Voters of South Carolina[14] and former South Carolina District 42 Senator Marlon Kimpson.[15]
The Democratic primary took place on September 5.[16] Other candidates in the primary were State RepresentativesJA Moore andWendell Gilliard. Moore was bested by Gilliard and Tedder, who faced each other in a primary runoff.[17][18]
On September 19, Tedder, who had been endorsed by SC CongressmanJim Clyburn,[19] led the runoff by 11 votes, triggering a recount.[20] The recount was conducted and results certified by theCharleston County Board of Canvassers and theDorchester 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 againstRepublican Rosa Kay in a special election held on November 7, 2023.[21] He is currently the youngest member of the South Carolina Senate.[22][23]
In March 2024 Tedder filed for re-election to the South Carolina Senate. He faced challenger Kim Greene in the Democratic Primary.[24] Tedder defeated Greene and went on unopposed to retain his Senate seat.[25]