Texas Democrat Nicole Collier Stands Ground in 24-Hour Protest Against Republican Watch, Fights Redistricting Plan

Texas State Representative Nicole Collier, a Democrat, has been on the floor of the Texas House for over 24 hours in protest, following her refusal to comply with a Republican demand to be under the supervision of the Department of Public Safety.

Upon their return to the Capitol in Austin on Monday, Texas House Democrats found themselves subject to restrictions on their movements, imposed by House Speaker Dustin Burrows. The Democrats were only permitted to leave the House floor if they obtained written permission and agreed to be accompanied by law enforcement until the chamber reconvenes on Wednesday morning.

Democrats who had previously evaded attempts to establish a quorum for a special session aimed at approving redrawn congressional maps will receive constant escorts from the Department of Public Safety to ensure their presence when the House reconvenes, according to a legislative aide.

Fleeing to states with Democratic leanings such as Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts, the Democrats had faced civil arrest warrants issued by GOP officials in Texas. Most of the Democrats complied with the law enforcement escort, providing reporters with what they called “permission slips” and pointing out the officers accompanying them within the Capitol.

However, Collier chose not to comply with this agreement and has remained confined to the House floor since her return. She can only leave the floor to visit her office under the watch of a law enforcement officer, an aide explained, and cannot depart from the state Capitol without agreeing to external supervision.

State Reps. Gene Wu and Vince Perez, who signed the “permission slips” for a police escort on Monday, have joined Collier on the House floor throughout this period. Perez left early Tuesday morning, but Wu remained in the chamber with Collier.

On Monday evening, Wu shared a photograph detailing some of their provisions for the long hours ahead – dried peaches, freeze-dried grapes, popcorn, and ramen.

“My constituents sent me to Austin to protect their voices and rights,” said Collier. “I refuse to compromise my dignity as a duly elected representative in order to allow Republicans to control my movements and monitor me with police escorts. My community is majority-minority, and they expect me to stand up for their representation. When I press the vote button, I am aware that these maps will harm my constituents – I will not simply comply with their intimidation or discrimination.”

Texas Democrat Beto O’Rourke praised Collier’s protest on Monday, writing on social media, “A true hero, resisting, fighting these authoritarians by herself if she must. We are with you Nicole!”

Burrows stated in a statement that “Rep. Collier’s decision to refrain from signing the permission slip is within her rights under the House Rules.” The Texas House Speaker said he is instead focusing his time on important legislation.

The Texas House established a quorum Monday afternoon for the first time since most members of the Democratic minority left the state 15 days earlier to prevent the necessary two-thirds quorum from being met for new congressional maps aimed at creating five additional Republican-leaning seats ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

Initially, Burrows had signed civil arrest warrants for those Democrats. However, DPS officers could not execute these warrants because the Democrats were out of state.

At President Donald Trump’s urging, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Republicans controlling the state House and Senate initiated the mid-decade redrawing of the state’s congressional districts – a departure from most states’ typical practice of redistricting once a decade, following the completion of the US Census.

This action is part of the party’s efforts to maintain their narrow House majority in next year’s midterm elections, which also includes lobbying GOP officials in Indiana and Missouri to alter their maps to convert Democratic-held seats into advantageous territory for Republicans, and may result in additional GOP-leaning seats being added in Ohio, as required by state law for redistricting.

The Texas effort has sparked a nationwide gerrymandering arms race. In California, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has vowed retribution, proposing a measure that could lead to new maps benefiting Democrats and potentially adding five additional seats in the state – but only if Texas moves forward with its redistricting plan.