Texas Democrat Spends Night in Legislature Protesting Police Shadowing/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Texas Democratic Rep. Nicole Collier spent the night in the House chamber protesting Republican-imposed surveillance tied to the state’s heated redistricting battle. Democrats accuse GOP leaders of intimidation as the Legislature moves to approve new maps that could add five GOP House seats. Tensions echo a national partisan fight playing out in both Texas and California.
Texas Redistricting Battle Quick Looks
- Rep. Nicole Collier refused GOP “permission slip”, stayed overnight in House chamber.
- GOP is requiring DPS officers to monitor Democrats returning from boycott.
- Collier calls policy “intimidation” and “discrimination”, vows to fight redistricting plan.
- Texas Democrats had fled state, delaying Republican redistricting votes.
- GOP aims to add five Republican U.S. House seats from Texas.
- California Democrats retaliate with their own redistricting proposal to expand House advantage.
- House Speaker Burrows and Gov. Abbott push forward despite protests.
- Surveillance includes officers shadowing lawmakers during personal activities and rest breaks.
- Texas Democrat Mihaela Plesa tailed by police during daily routine.
- National implications loom large ahead of 2026 midterms with House majority at stake.
- Democrats vow court challenges to new Texas maps once passed.
- California’s new maps target battleground districts, expected to face lawsuits.
- Gov. Abbott adds redistricting to special session, linking it to flood relief.
- GOP accuses Democrats of delaying disaster response by fleeing redistricting vote.
Deep Look: Texas Democrat Sleeps in Chamber to Protest GOP Surveillance in Redistricting Battle
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Tensions in Texas’ ongoing redistricting showdown escalated dramatically this week as Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier opted to spend the night on the floor of the state House in defiance of Republican efforts to impose around-the-clock surveillance on returning Democratic lawmakers.
Collier, who represents a majority-minority district in Fort Worth, refused to sign what Democrats call a “permission slip” — a written agreement allowing Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers to monitor and shadow them once they re-enter the chamber. As a result, she remained on the House floor overnight on Monday, protesting what she described as intimidation tactics aimed at stifling dissent over Republican-led redistricting efforts.
“I will not sign away my dignity,” Collier said in a public statement. “These maps will harm my constituents. I won’t quietly submit to control or discrimination.”
Lawmakers Shadowed by Police
The protest comes after dozens of Texas Democrats returned from a walkout that stalled redistricting votes for over two weeks. As they resumed their legislative duties, many were met by state troopers assigned to monitor their movements. Democratic Rep. Mihaela Plesa, who represents a Dallas suburb, described being tailed by an officer to lunch, her office, and even to the restroom.
“We laughed at first, but this is serious,” said Plesa. “This is political theater and a massive misuse of taxpayer dollars.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety did not respond to requests for comment.
A Broader Power Struggle
At the heart of the protest is the GOP-led push to redraw Texas’ U.S. House maps, part of a broader nationwide battle over control of Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Texas Republicans seek to expand their congressional delegation by five additional seats, capitalizing on recent census data and legal leeway granted by state law.
Democrats had fled the state on August 3, traveling to Illinois and other locations to prevent Republicans from reaching quorum. On Monday, most returned, landing at a private airfield in Austin and riding a charter bus to the Capitol. Cheered on by supporters, they re-entered the chamber knowing the GOP could now push their redistricting plan forward.
Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows avoided mentioning redistricting in public remarks but pledged rapid legislative action. “We aren’t playing around,” tweeted Republican Rep. Matt Shaheen.
Democrats Vow Court Fight
Despite acknowledging that Republicans now have the votes, Texas House Minority Leader Gene Wu said Democrats would challenge the new maps in court. The Legislature did not vote on any bills Monday, and lawmakers are not scheduled to reconvene until Wednesday.
The fight isn’t isolated to Texas. In a direct countermeasure, California Democrats introduced new maps on Monday aimed at expanding their own House majority by up to five seats — targeting competitive districts across Northern California, Orange County, and the Central Valley.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a November 4 special referendum to override his state’s independent redistricting commission, a dramatic move that could reshape congressional representation until 2030. Democrats say they’ll restore independent oversight after this cycle. California Republicans have vowed legal action.
“We didn’t want this fight,” said Assemblymember Marc Berman, “but we won’t walk away when democracy is on the line.”
Trump and Abbott Drive GOP Redistricting Agenda
President Donald Trump, eager to solidify his party’s slim House majority, has pressured Republican-run states like Texas to redraw maps favorably. Texas Governor Greg Abbott added redistricting to a special session originally convened to address flood relief following deadly storms that killed over 130 people.
Democrats blame Abbott for politicizing that special session by tethering it to redistricting. Abbott, Burrows, and other GOP leaders have used multiple legal maneuvers to coerce Democrats into returning, including advocating that Texas courts remove absent lawmakers from office.
Legal Risks and Financial Penalties
Though the Democrats who returned did so voluntarily and without arrest, they now face fines of up to $500 per missed legislative day, as well as demands from GOP leaders to repay law enforcement costs for officers deployed during the walkout.
Still, Collier and her colleagues remain defiant, framing their protest as a defense of democratic principles.
“This is about fairness, dignity, and the right to represent our districts without intimidation,” Collier said. “I won’t be part of a system that uses surveillance to silence opposition.”
You must Register or Login to post a comment.