- calendar_today August 11, 2025
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Texas Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier abruptly hung up on a private call with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders on Wednesday. She left the call, saying she had been told it is a felony for her to be in the bathroom or on the House floor and the call.
The incident, which was captured on camera, highlights the growing tension over the deeply contested redistricting bill that the Lone Star state is attempting to pass, and is the latest move in what Democrats say is an infringement on federal voting rights.
Collier was on a video call with Newsom, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin, and other Democratic members while on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives. The Texas state Capitol was also in the middle of a floor debate over a redistricting bill backed by former President Donald Trump.
In her remarks, Collier criticized the map, saying it subverts the Voting Rights Act.
“This bill will prevent Black and brown individuals from selecting the candidates of their choice because they’re cracking and packing these districts,” Collier said.
“I just wanted to speak about this voting rights bill that is happening down here,” Collier added. “We are debating this tonight, so this is an opportunity for our California members to know exactly what’s happening with this legislation.”
She added, “So, we are here with members of the Texas House of Representatives … “
Collier, who was off-camera for the first several minutes of the call, interrupted Martin about 30 minutes into the call. “Sorry, I have to leave. They said it’s a felony for me to do this,” she said.
“It is very discourteous for you to do that,” Martin chided Collier.
Collier also added, “Apparently, I can’t be on the floor or in the bathroom.”
Collier then addressed an unidentified individual off-camera.
“You told me I was only allowed to be here in the bathroom,” Collier said.
Collier then turned back toward the call, saying, “No, hang on. Bye everybody. I’ve got to go.”
She then hung up on the call.
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker immediately responded to Collier’s exit, saying: “That’s outrageous. Thank God for the dignity of Rep. Collier. Let me tell you something, Rep. Collier in the bathroom has more dignity than Donald Trump in the Oval Office.”
Newsom nodded in agreement.
Booker then added, “What they’re trying to do right there is silence an American leader, silence a Black woman, and that is outrageous. What we just witnessed, them trying to shut her down and saying it’s illegal for her to be in the bathroom and on this call, this is the lengths that they’re going to in Texas.”
TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA IN REDISTRICTING FIGHT
The tense moment came as Texas and California have been engaged in what could become one of the most brutal redistricting wars in the country. Days earlier, the largest walkout in Texas history ended as dozens of Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives came back to the state after a two-week walkout in an attempt to deny Republicans a quorum and pass the redistricting measure.
As lawmakers returned to the state Capitol in Austin, the Texas Department of Public Safety officers began a security lockdown of the Texas state Capitol. Members reported that Texas DPS officers were assigned to follow them around, even to guard their offices or follow them through hallways. Some members also described needing to sign “permission slips” to leave the Capitol as part of the new security measures that will continue to make sure the state has a quorum in future sessions.
The redistricting bill, which is being backed by Trump, could add as many as five congressional seats for Republicans, according to Democrats. But California Democrats have released their redistricting plan to counter those Republican gains. Working with the DCCC, Newsom, and Martin announced a redistricting plan for California that would erase five Republican congressional seats that Republicans could potentially add to the congressional map with the Texas bill.
A new map for California was released on Friday that shows what the new redistricting plan would look like and how it could undo some of the Republican seats Republicans could potentially add.
The two states are key to the new fight over the midterm elections as both parties are jockeying to gain control of Congress in the next election. And the fight for each district matters, especially as Democrats are using the fight in Texas as both a rallying cry and a symbol of what they say is an attack on voting rights.




