Texas Democrats Protest GOP Redistricting With Capitol Sit-In, Lawsuit

Texas State Representative Nicole Collier, a Democrat from Fort Worth, has staged a persistent protest against Republican-led redistricting efforts in the Texas House by refusing to sign a permission slip that would subject her to police surveillance and escort within the Capitol. After a two-week Democratic walkout aimed at blocking a GOP plan to redraw congressional districts favoring Republicans, Collier remained overnight in the House chamber, livestreaming her vigil and drawing national attention. She has been joined by several Democratic colleagues in a sit-in to oppose the new rules requiring monitoring of lawmakers who had fled the state. Collier has filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the Republican leadership’s mandate for police escorts, arguing that the House lacks authority to detain members present in the chamber and that no vote requiring a quorum is scheduled. The Republicans' plan aims to flip five U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterms, a move Democrats vehemently oppose as an attempt to suppress their influence. The standoff continues as the Texas House prepares to reconvene to advance the redistricting map, setting the stage for a contentious political showdown.