Texas Lawmaker Stages Overnight Protest Against GOP’s Escort Mandate

Democratic Texas State Representative Nicole Collier made a powerful statement overnight, staging a protest on the Texas House floor after refusing a Republican demand for a law enforcement escort. Her defiance comes as Texas House Democrats, who had previously fled the state to prevent a vote on a contentious GOP redistricting plan, returned to the Capitol in Austin on Monday, August 18th.

Upon their return, House Speaker Dustin Burrows imposed strict new rules, allowing Democrats to leave the House floor only with written permission and under the constant supervision of state Department of Public Safety officers until the chamber reconvenes on Wednesday morning. While most Democrats complied with the escort requirement, Rep. Collier stood firm, choosing confinement to the House floor rather than submitting to what she called an infringement on her dignity.

“My constituents sent me to Austin to protect their voices and rights,” Collier stated. “I refuse to sign away my dignity as a duly elected representative just so Republicans can control my movements and monitor me with police escorts.” She emphasized her commitment to her majority-minority community, vowing not to quietly accept intimidation or discrimination over maps she believes will harm her constituents.

Collier was joined overnight by fellow State Representatives Gene Wu and Vince Perez, who provided support. Her stand has garnered attention and praise, including from former Congressman Beto O’Rourke, who hailed her as “a true hero.”

The return of the Democrats on Monday finally established a quorum in the Texas House, 15 days after the minority members initially broke quorum to block the redrawing of Texas’s 38 congressional districts. This redistricting effort, pushed by Governor Greg Abbott and state Republicans, aims to create five additional Republican-leaning seats ahead of next year’s midterm elections, part of a broader national gerrymandering strategy that has intensified political battles across the country.

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