Texas Democrat Locked in State Capitol After Refusing to Agree to Law Enforcement Escort
The Texas legislature is currently in a standoff involving Democratic lawmakers who are resisting efforts to compel their presence during a special session called to approve new congressional district maps.Rep. Nicole Collier, a 12-year veteran, chose to stay locked inside the Texas Capitol rather than leave under escort by the Department of Public Safety, as required by Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows. This escort condition was imposed on Democrats who had arrest warrants issued during their attempt to block the redistricting vote by denying the House a quorum. Collier refused to sign the permission slip for the escort, calling herself “stubborn” and rejecting the control implied by the requirement. By Tuesday, more Democratic lawmakers joined her, tearing up their signed slips and choosing to stay inside the Capitol. Earlier, Texas Democrats had fled to other states to avoid the redistricting vote, which Republicans view as crucial to gaining up to five congressional seats and perhaps maintaining control of Congress after the 2026 elections. Speaker Burrows stated that requiring escorts adheres to House rules and emphasized his focus on advancing legislation. The Democrats’ refusal to leave is a continuation of their strategy to block the GOP’s redistricting efforts by denying a quorum.
The Texas legislature is going from not being able to keep its Democratic lawmakers to not being able to get them out of the Capitol.
A Texas state lawmaker from Fort Worth chose to remain locked inside the building Monday, rather than leave with a law enforcement escort to ensure she returns to work Wednesday.
And by Tuesday, she had more lawmakers joining her.
According to NBC News, self-styled “political prisoner” Rep. Nicole Collier, a 12-year veteran of the legislature, declined to go along with the condition that she accept an escort from the Department of Public Safety in order to leave the House chamber on Monday.
Texas Democrat State Rep. Nicole Collier spends the night in the Legislature protesting police shadowing, “permission slips” in redistricting battlehttps://t.co/VqEVtb8J4C pic.twitter.com/MK09ysxY4D
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) August 19, 2025
The condition was imposed by Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows on all Texas Democratic lawmakers who’d had arrest warrants issued for them during their effort to deny the House a quorum to vote on new congressional district lines before the 2026 midterms.
Republicans could gain five congressional seats from the redistricting, which could well be enough for the GOP to retain control of Congress after the elections.
Collier was the only one who refused to accept the escort.
“I guess I’m being stubborn, like they are,” she said, according to NBC. “But I’m not signing the piece of paper to make them feel good so they can have something in their hand as evidence of their control.”
Burrows, perhaps not surprisingly, doesn’t see it that way at all. In fact, in a statement, he all but dismissed questions on the topic, according to NBC.
“Rep. Collier’s choice to stay and not sign the permission slip is well within her rights under the House Rules,” the statement said, NBC reported.
“I am choosing to spend my time focused on moving the important legislation … the results Texans care about.”
As most Americans who follow politics have heard, Texas Democrats decamped at the end of July to Democrat-run states like Illinois and Massachusetts for two weeks in an effort to stave off a redistricting vote during a special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott.
The effort was successful to some extent; the special session never managed to convene because the House lacked a quorum without the Democrats. But, as the redistricting fight reverberated across state lines, Abbott simply called another special session.
Escorts for Democrats by officers of the state Department of Public Safety were Burrows’ way to guarantee there would be no repeat of the mass exodus before the beginning of the next special session. That’s scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, according to CBS News.
On Tuesday, other Democrats who’d signed slips accepting the escorts returned to the Capitol, tore up the slips, and vowed to stay as well.
Democratic Reps. Plesa and Hernandez tear up their permission slips before the group enters the chamber for the night. #txlege pic.twitter.com/y1sBptZiI9
— Taylor Goldenstein (@taygoldenstein) August 19, 2025
“Who’s House?” Rep. Mihaela Plesa called, as a small but raucous crowd of supporters responded, “Our House!”
“Never let them forget that,” Plesa said.
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