A Democratic representative by the name of Nicole Collier is currently being forced to stay within the Texas State House or face going to jail due to Republicans trying to push through new redistricting maps that require a certain amount of lawmakers to be present.
Collier has spent the last two nights in the Texas Capitol after she arrived at work on Monday and was informed that she would not be able to leave the building without a police escort. She refused to sign the permission slip to be under escort of the Texas Department of Public Safety, telling CBS “I refuse to comply with this unreasonable, un-American and unnecessary request.”
Why does Nicole Collier have to stay in the Texas Capitol?
Collier, along with other Democrat lawmakers in Texas, left the state earlier in the month in order to try and delay legislation that will change the congressional map of the state. The proposed changes put forward by the GOP were requested by Donald Trump who is hoping to gain a stronger grip on the state by essentially flipping five Democrat seats to Republican seats with the new district lines.
The GOP needs a certain amount of lawmakers present so in order to pass this change they need the Democrats to be present. To ensure that the lawmakers didn’t try to interfere once again Collier and her colleagues were told they would need to be kept under police supervision even when they left work to ensure that they would be present on Wednesday, when the GOP plans to push Trump’s changes through.
Collier refused to give in to the GOP bullying, she did not sign the slip consenting to the escort meaning her only alternative was to stay in the Capitol building from Monday through to Wednesday.
Does this sound like something that happens in a democracy?
Collier has been livestreaming her time on the house floor. She’s taken calls and continues to work and when nighttime comes around she pulls up a couple of chairs and settles in for the night.
This was my night, bonnet and all, in the #txlege. #thisisme pic.twitter.com/46YgqbMUk8
— Nicole Collier (@NicoleCollier95) August 19, 2025
Several of Colliers Democrat colleagues did end up tearing their permission slips and vowing to join her Tuesday night. However, this doesn’t seem like something that should be happening in a functional democracy. Collier and her colleagues have not been treated with dignity, for a large part of her stay she wasn’t even allowed access to her office.
In case you aren’t paying attention to the latest in Texas…
— Sara McGee for Texas HD 132 (@SaraForTexLege) August 18, 2025
She has since been given “permission” to go to her office inside the Capitol building but is still not being permitted to leave the building without a police escort.
Reminder: She has broken zero laws. https://t.co/tsp5fIfWYr
She has done nothing illegal and yet the GOP are treating her and other Democrats like criminals.
At the time of writing it looks as though lawmakers in the Texas State House are close to unveiling the new congressional map meaning Collier won’t be required to stay in the building anymore. However, the changes will still potentially see Republicans pick up five extra seats meaning Trump has a better shot at maintaining power during the upcoming midterms. And people say he isn’t corrupt.
