Texas Democratic state Representative Nicole Collier was abruptly forced off a call with California Governor Gavin Newsom and other senior Democratic Party leaders Tuesday after being warned that she was committing a felony office by participating in the meeting from the state Capitol bathroom.
Collier was on a call with Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, Newsom, and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker while the Texas House of Representatives was simultaneously attempting to block a Texas redistricting bill backed by President Donald Trump.
During the call, Collier argued that the Texas redistricting bill violates the Voting Rights Act and “will prevent black and brown individuals from selecting the candidates of their choice because they’re cracking and packing these districts.”
About 30 minutes into the call, while Martin was speaking, Collier suddenly interrupted with an urgent announcement.
“Sorry, I have to leave. They said it’s a felony for me to do this,” Collier said. “Apparently I can’t be on the floor or in the bathroom.”
She then turned to address someone off camera, saying “You told me I was only allowed to be here in the bathroom,” before turning back to the call and adding, “No, hang on. Bye everybody. I’ve got to go.”
Both Newsom and Booker flew into a fit of anger after Collier’s sudden departure from the call.
“That is outrageous,” Booker said. “Let me tell you something, Rep. Collier in the bathroom has more dignity than Donald Trump in the Oval Office.”
“There you go,” Newsom responded.
“What they’re trying to do right there is silence an American leader, silence a black woman, and that is outrageous,” Booker claimed about the felony warning. “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.”
BREAKING: Texas State Rep. Nicole Collier gets THROWN-OUT of the BATHROOM at the State Capitol where she's on a conference call with Corey Booker, Gavin Newsom, and Democrat Party leader, Ken Martin.
This is the state of the Democrat Party.. Conference calls in bathrooms… pic.twitter.com/l34eBrfVZE
— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) August 20, 2025
It’s just the latest from an ongoing standoff between Texas Democrats and Republicans over redistricting that could create up to five additional U.S. House districts favorable to Republicans.
Collier was among dozens of Democratic members of the Texas House who illegally fled the state and refused to return to the legislature for two weeks, using a legal loophole to hold up the redistricting bill by breaking quorum.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other state leaders ordered the Democratic lawmakers to be arrested and threatened to have them removed from office if they did not return to fulfill their duties.
The Democrats returned to the legislature Monday, but faced heightened security measures designed to ensure a quorum was maintained. Texas Department of Public Safety officers were forced to follow Democratic lawmakers around the state Capitol and either guarded their offices or stayed in them and tailed them when they left. They said they had to sign “permission slips” and accept the surveillance to leave the building.
Rather than comply with these measures, Collier stayed on the House floor in the Texas Capitol on Monday night and Tuesday. She has accused the state’s House speaker of illegally confining her and threatening her with arrest, and has filed a court motion seeking her release.
Abbott said Monday he had ordered state police to find and arrest Democratic lawmakers after the state House issued civil arrest warrants, though state law enforcement is restricted to making arrests only within Texas.
Despite the Democrats’ two-week absence and continued resistance, the Texas House approved the redistricting maps Wednesday.
The Texas redistricting effort has prompted a response from California Democrats. Newsom announced he would advance a Democrat-favored redistricting map in California to counter the Texas redistricting bill. On Friday, California Democrats and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a new district map that would likely eliminate five GOP congressional seats, theoretically nullifying the five additional seats Republicans would gain if Texas’ redistricting push is successful.
The redistricting battle represents a rare mid-decade redrawing of congressional maps, which typically occurs every ten years following the census. The Texas effort has drawn national attention because of its potential to shift the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.
More than 50 Democratic lawmakers fled Texas to delay votes on the redistricting map. Their return Monday allowed the House to reach the quorum necessary to conduct business and vote on the controversial redistricting legislation.