Democratic Lawmaker Sleeps on Texas House Floor in Protest of GOP Redistricting Efforts

Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier made a bold statement by spending the night on the Texas House floor, defying a Republican-imposed police escort aimed at preventing her and her Democratic colleagues from leaving the state once again as the GOP pushes to redraw congressional districts.

Collier, who represents a minority-majority district in Fort Worth, remained on the House floor at the Texas Capitol on Monday night and Tuesday, refusing to sign away her dignity. She referred to herself as a political prisoner, as reported by FOX4 Dallas-Fort Worth.

Collier’s defiant act came amidst reports from Democratic lawmakers at the state Capitol that they were being closely monitored by Texas Department of Public Safety officers. They were required to sign “permission slips” and accept surveillance in order to leave the building.

The standoff between Texas Republican leaders and Democratic lawmakers has been ongoing for two weeks. The Democrats fled the state to prevent the passage of a redistricting bill backed by former President Donald Trump, which could potentially give the GOP five additional congressional seats.

State Rep. Nicole Collier is among the Democratic Texas state lawmakers who oppose the state GOP’s Trump-backed redistricting bill. (Texas Rep. Gene Wu via AP)

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Despite threats of removal and arrest by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders, the Democratic lawmakers have stood their ground, vowing not to return until another Democratic state intervenes to nullify the new Republican seats.

The special legislative session called by the governor to pass the redistricting bill has ended, but a second special session has commenced, with the Texas Senate already passing the measure.

Fox News Digital’s Peter Pinedo and The Associated Press contributed to this report.