Deon Tedder

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."Senate Standing Committees". South Carolina Legislature. 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.

{{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.{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Deon Tedder |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Deon_Tedder |access-date=December 6, 2023 |website=Ballotpedia}}{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2021 |title=2020 Statewide General Election, Election Night Reporting, STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DISTRICT 109 |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/106502/Web02-state.264691/#/cid/28218?undefined |access-date=December 6, 2023 |website=South Carolina Election Commission}}

He served on the House Education and Public Works Committee and the Operations and Management Committee {{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Representative Deon T. Tedder |url=https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=1811931601 |access-date=March 13, 2023 |website=South Carolina Legislature}} and as Treasurer of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus.{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Members |url=https://scblackcaucus.com/members/ |access-date=March 13, 2023 |website=South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus}}

Tedder had a bill passed supporting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs),{{Cite news |last=Flowers |first=Marcus |date=February 14, 2022 |title=Representative Deon Tedder's 'HBCU Day' bill to be signed into law |url=https://wach.com/news/local/columbia-sc-hbcu-day-bill-law |access-date=March 13, 2023 |work=WACH 57}} and supported clean energy and electric vehicle technology.{{Cite web |last=Larsen |first=Dory |date=February 17, 2023 |title=Putting South Carolina State Decision Makers in the Driver's Seat |url=https://cleanenergy.org/blog/putting-south-carolina-state-decision-makers-in-the-drivers-seat/ |access-date=March 13, 2023 |website=Southern Alliance for Clean Energy}} He opposed a bail reform bill, which he said would create 'a violation of due process'.{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Alexander |date=March 1, 2023 |title=SC House passes bail reform to stop what it calls 'revolving door' for criminals |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/sc-house-passes-bail-reform-to-stop-what-it-calls-revolving-door-for-criminals/article_1d837a9a-b83e-11ed-a4cd-df290eaeef87.html |access-date=March 13, 2023 |work=The Post and Courier}}

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.{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Lee |date=March 7, 2023 |title=Three legislators create "Freedom Caucus of South Carolina," members say caucus with similar name not doing its job |url=https://www.abccolumbia.com/2023/03/07/three-legislators-create-freedom-caucus-of-south-carolina-members-say-caucus-with-similar-name-not-doing-its-job/ |access-date=March 13, 2023 |work=WOLO-TV}}

{{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.{{Cite news |last=Smalls |first=Sydaija |date=March 13, 2023 |title=SC State Senator Marlon Kimpson joining the White House |work=ABC 4 news |url=https://abcnews4.com/news/local/sc-state-senator-marlon-kimpson-is-joining-the-white-house |access-date=March 13, 2023}} The seat would be decided in a special election in 2023.{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Lindsay |date=March 12, 2023 |title=SC Rep. Deon Tedder to run for Senate District 42 |work=Countonnews2.com |url=https://www.counton2.com/news/your-local-election-hq/sc-rep-deon-tedder-to-run-for-senate-district-42/ |access-date=March 13, 2023}} Endorsements that Tedder received in his race for the Senate seat included Conservation Voters of South Carolina{{Cite news |last=Kayanja |first=Ian |date=July 26, 2023 |title=Conservation Voters of South Carolina endorse Deon Tedder in pivotal SC Senate District 42 race |work=WCIV-TV |url=https://abcnews4.com/news/local/conservation-voters-of-south-carolina-endorse-deon-tedder-in-pivotal-sc-senate-district-42-race |access-date=August 16, 2023}} and former South Carolina District 42 Senator Marlon Kimpson.{{Cite news |last=Kayanja |first=Ian |date=July 11, 2023 |title=Former state Senator Marlon Kimpson endorses Deon Tedder in SC District 42 senate race |work=WCIV-TV |url=https://abcnews4.com/news/local/deon-tedder-secures-marlon-kimpsons-endorsement-for-south-carolina-senate-district-42-race-politics-news-local |access-date=August 16, 2023}}

The Democratic primary took place on September 5.{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2023 |title=State Senate District 42 Special Election |url=https://scvotes.gov/state-senate-district-42-special-election-2/ |access-date=August 16, 2023 |website=South Carolina State Election Commission}} 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.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.{{Cite news |last=Alexander Thompson |first=and Kenna Coe |date=September 5, 2023 |title=Gilliard, Tedder headed to runoff in Charleston-area state Senate primary |work=The Post and Courier |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/gilliard-tedder-appear-headed-to-runoff-in-charleston-area-state-senate-primary/article_19d4e00c-4c20-11ee-bed4-83296643a447.html |access-date=September 5, 2023}}

On September 19, Tedder, who had been endorsed by SC Congressman Jim Clyburn,{{Cite news |last=Kayanja |first=Ian |date=September 16, 2023 |title=Congressman Clyburn endorses Tedder ahead of SC Senate District 42 Democratic primary runoff |work=WCIV-TV |url=https://abcnews4.com/news/local/congressman-clyburn-endorses-tedder-ahead-of-sc-senate-district-42-democratic-primary-runoff-wciv-politics-primary |access-date=September 19, 2023}} led the runoff by 11 votes, triggering a recount.{{Cite news |last=Renaud |first=Tim |date=September 19, 2023 |title=Deon Tedder leads SC Sen. District 42 runoff by 11 votes; recount likely |work=WCBD-TV |url=https://www.counton2.com/news/your-local-election-hq/tedder-gilliard-neck-and-neck-for-sc-sen-district-42-recount-likely/ |access-date=September 19, 2023}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Coe |first=Kenna |date=September 21, 2023 |title=Deon Tedder declared winner with 11-vote lead in Senate 42 Democratic primary runoff |work=The Post and Courier |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/deon-tedder-declared-winner-with-11-vote-lead-in-senate-42-democratic-primary-runoff/article_966edc2a-57de-11ee-8450-4f05f2b0c7be.html |access-date=September 21, 2023}} He is currently the youngest member of the South Carolina Senate.{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=November 11, 2023 |title=Deon Tedder to become youngest South Carolina state senator with special election victory |work=The Grio |url=https://thegrio.com/2023/11/11/deon-tedder-elected-to-south-carolina-state-senate/ |access-date=December 6, 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Rhodes |first=Christopher |date=November 14, 2023 |title=AT 33, DEON TEDDER WILL BECOME SOUTH CAROLINA’S YOUNGEST STATE SENATOR |work=Blavity |url=https://blavity.com/deon-tedder-will-become-south-carolinas-youngest-state-senator |access-date=December 6, 2023}}

In March 2024 Tedder filed for re-election to the South Carolina Senate. He faced challenger Kim Greene in the Democratic Primary.{{Cite news |last=Kayanja |first=Ian |date=March 18, 2024 |title=State Sen. Tedder officially files for full-term reelection in Senate District 42 |url=https://abcnews4.com/news/local/state-sen-deon-tedder-officially-files-for-full-term-reelection-in-senate-district-42-democratic-primary-abc-news-4-wciv-2024 |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=WCIV-TV}} Tedder defeated Greene and went on unopposed to retain his Senate seat.{{Cite web |title=Election Night Reporting |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/122436/web.345435/#/detail/27584 |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=www.enr-scvotes.org |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://deontedder.com/ Deon Tedder SC Senate District 42 Campaign Website]
• [https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=1811931601 Deon Tedder State Senate page] on [https://www.scstatehouse.gov/index.php South Carolina Legislature Online]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlG6nMPLfb0 Representative Deon Tedder Voices Support for S150] on [https://www.sccompassion.com/ SC Compassionate Care Alliance]

{{South Carolina State Senators}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tedder, Deon T.}}

Category:1990 births

Category:Living people

Category:Democratic Party members of the South Carolina House of Representatives

Category:African-American people in South Carolina politics

Category:South Carolina State University alumni

Category:University of South Carolina School of Law alumni

Category:Politicians from Durham, North Carolina

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:Democratic Party South Carolina state senators

Category:South Carolina lawyers

Category:21st-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly

Category:21st-century African-American lawyers