Texas House Democrats Under 24-Hour Surveillance After Walkout

Texas Democrats have intensified their protest against Republican-led redistricting efforts by staging overnight demonstrations inside the state Capitol and refusing to comply with new surveillance mandates requiring them to be accompanied by state troopers whenever they leave the chamber. House Speaker Dustin Burrows has escalated enforcement measures, including pairing Democrats with plainclothes Department of Public Safety agents for round-the-clock surveillance, imposing fines, cutting office budgets, and requiring in-person paycheck pickups. This crackdown follows a two-week Democratic walkout intended to block GOP attempts to redraw voting maps to their advantage ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Meanwhile, Texas is also advancing aggressive digital surveillance policies under the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, which, while designed to protect consumer data, critics say enable increased tracking and monitoring, raising concerns about infringements on personal freedoms and potential weaponization against vulnerable groups. The ongoing conflict highlights deep partisan divides over voting rights, surveillance, and governance tactics in Texas, with Democrats labeling Republican measures as authoritarian and Republicans asserting legal authority to enforce House rules. This environment reflects broader national tensions around election security, privacy, and political power struggles.