Texas is treating Democratic representatives like convicted felons for trying to stop the GOP’s illegal gerrymandering efforts.
Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows is forcing every Democrat to stay with a state trooper at all times if they want to exit the House chamber, in response to their leaving Texas to protest Governor Greg Abbott’s redistricting efforts. The state legislature is set to return on Wednesday, but it’s unclear just how long Democrats will be followed home by law enforcement.
“The speaker announced, once quorum was restored, that the call of the House would remain, and any member that was out because of the quorum break would be required to sign a permission slip agreeing to be under the authority of [the Texas Department of Public Safety] in order to leave the capitol. I refused,” Democratic Representative Nicole Collier told NPR’s Texas branch. “I refused to sign the permission slip to be able to leave the Capitol. I disagree with that authoritarian tactic that they have taken.”
Texas State Rep. Nicole Collier spent the night on the House floor after refusing to agree ‘to round-the-clock monitoring by state troopers’”I disagree with that authoritarian tactic” https://t.co/2m1Z5sA1Ywpic.twitter.com/8JogaC3GD6
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) August 19, 2025
Over 50 state Democrats left Texas two weeks ago in response to the Republican party’s attempt to reshape voting districts to favor Republicans to gain more House seats in the 2026 midterms elections.
This is a blatantly unethical power grab and the Texas GOP knows it, which is why they’re trying to hold Democrats hostage unless they have a police officer by their side. If this was happening in any other country words like “authoritarian” or “draconian” would likely be used. Yet Texas Democrats are being forced to capitulate, scared to even leave the House floor to sleep in their homes.
Collier, meanwhile, has at least temporarily accepted her fate.
“I will have to stay here, I hadn’t really given [it] much thought. What matters to me is making sure I resist, and fight back, and push back. I’m sure I’ll fall asleep eventually, whether that’s in my chair or on the floor,” Collier continued, referring to her forced detainment in the House chamber.
Texas Democrats have already been threatened with arrest and expulsion. This State Trooper watch is yet another aggressive escalation by a state government that has cast basic democracy aside.
“This was my night, bonnet and all, in the #txlege,” Collier posted this morning, accompanied by a picture of her asleep in her House Chamber chair.
The post Texas Dems Resort to Wild Measure to Protest Fascist Surveillance appeared first on New Republic.
