Tempers are flaring in Texas politics as Democrats and Republicans clash over redistricting, legislative rules, and the boundaries of political power. In a pair of dramatic incidents this August, Democratic lawmakers found themselves at the center of controversy—one abruptly leaving a high-profile conference call after being warned her actions might be a felony, another publicly blasting Republican efforts to redraw congressional maps and tighten procedural controls in the state legislature.
On August 20, 2025, Democratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier participated in a conference call that included California Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin, according to Fox News. The call, which was intended to rally Democrats across state lines, took an unexpected turn when Collier suddenly announced her departure. "Sorry, I have to leave. They said it’s a felony for me to do this. Apparently, I can’t be on the floor or in a bathroom," Collier said, interrupting Martin’s remarks. She appeared to be speaking to someone off-camera, adding, "You told me I was only allowed to be here in the bathroom…No, hold on – bye everybody, I’ve got to go."
The abrupt exit left participants stunned. Senator Booker, known for his passionate rhetoric, immediately condemned the situation. "That is outrageous. Let me tell you something, Rep. Collier in the bathroom has more dignity than Donald Trump in the Oval Office," Booker declared. He went on, "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."
As reported by Fox News, it remains unclear what, if any, law Rep. Collier may have violated by participating in the call, even from a bathroom. Some have speculated that Texas visual recording laws could be at play, but no state officials have confirmed or explained the allegations. The lack of clarity has fueled further speculation and debate about whether the episode was an overreaction or a sign of deeper political tensions gripping the state.
Meanwhile, another Texas Democrat, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, has been making headlines of her own. On August 19, Crockett appeared on CNN’s The Source to sharply criticize Republican lawmakers for their aggressive mid-decade redistricting efforts. The Texas GOP, backed by former President Donald Trump, is pushing to redraw congressional maps in a bid to secure five additional House seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Crockett minced no words in her assessment: "The Republicans, they are cheaters all day, every day. But we have never tried to match their energy until now. And I applaud it," she said, referencing Democratic-led redistricting proposals in California.
Crockett warned that the Texas GOP’s hardball tactics could provoke a national backlash. "You can stop this right now if you just say, hey, we will stop in Texas, because California doesn’t go into play unless Texas does," she argued. Her comments underscore a growing sentiment among Democrats that the battle over district maps is escalating into a nationwide arms race, with both parties deploying increasingly aggressive strategies to tilt electoral outcomes in their favor.
Texas Democrats, including Crockett and Collier, have not been shy about using dramatic tactics of their own. Earlier this month, a group of Democratic lawmakers fled the state in an effort to break quorum and block the redistricting proposal. Their absence temporarily stalled the legislative process but, as reported by CNN and Fox News, the group has since returned to Austin for expected votes on the maps. The episode echoes similar walkouts by Texas Democrats in recent years, highlighting the deep partisan divides over voting rights and representation.
In her CNN appearance, Crockett also linked the Texas dispute to broader national trends, citing the example of North Carolina. She described how, after Republicans gained a majority on the state Supreme Court, they redrew congressional maps to increase their party’s representation from seven to ten seats, despite voting patterns that did not support such a dramatic shift. "Well, when you look at the voting, nothing looks like 10-4," Crockett said, pointing to what she sees as evidence of partisan gerrymandering run amok.
The tensions in Texas have not been limited to redistricting. Crockett has also spoken out forcefully against new rules in the Texas House designed to ensure quorums during contentious votes. On the social media platform X, she blasted GOP leaders after Rep. Collier was allegedly prevented from leaving the chamber under these new rules. "As a former Texas State Rep, let me be clear: LOCKING Rep. Nicole Collier inside the chamber is beyond outrageous," Crockett posted. "Forcing elected officials to sign ‘permission slips’ and take police escorts to leave? That’s not procedure. That’s some old Jim Crow playbook."
The new procedural rules, intended to prevent walkouts like the one earlier this month, have drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who argue that they undermine the rights of elected officials and harken back to a darker era of American politics. Republicans, for their part, maintain that the rules are necessary to ensure the legislature can function and that the people’s business is not held hostage by minority tactics.
Crockett’s outspoken criticism of Trump-aligned GOP tactics has made her a rising star among progressives, with frequent appearances on cable news and social media. Her willingness to confront Republican leaders head-on has energized Democratic activists but also drawn fierce pushback from conservatives, who accuse her and her colleagues of obstructionism and political theater.
The drama in Texas is part of a broader national pattern, as both parties increasingly use aggressive map-drawing and procedural maneuvers to entrench their power. While Democrats decry Republican gerrymanders in states like Texas and North Carolina, Republicans point to Democratic efforts in California and other blue states as evidence that both sides are willing to bend the rules to their advantage.
For now, the immediate future of Texas politics remains uncertain. The controversy surrounding Rep. Collier’s abrupt exit from the conference call has yet to be resolved, with no official confirmation of any legal wrongdoing. The redistricting battle, meanwhile, is set to continue as lawmakers return to Austin and prepare for contentious votes that could reshape the state’s political landscape for years to come.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the fight over Texas’s political future is far from over, and both sides are digging in for a long and bitter struggle.
