Yasin Gungor
19 August 2025•Update: 19 August 2025
ISTANBUL
A Democratic lawmaker in the US state of Texas chose to sleep in the state House on Monday rather than accept Republican-imposed restrictions on her movement, according to CNN.
State Rep. Nicole Collier refused to comply with new rules requiring Democrats to have law enforcement escorts, leading to her overnight stay.
The incident occurred after Texas House Democrats ended a two-week exodus and returned to Austin on Monday. The lawmakers had fled the state to prevent a quorum on a controversial Republican redistricting plan that could create five new Republican-leaning congressional seats.
Upon their return, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows implemented strict movement controls. Democrats must obtain written permission and accept law enforcement escorts to leave the House floor until the chamber reconvenes Wednesday morning.
Most returning Democrats accepted the requirements, displaying "permission slips" to reporters.
Collier's refusal means she cannot leave the state Capitol without supervision and can only visit her office under law enforcement watch.
Collier documented her protest on the US social media company X, sharing a photo of herself sleeping on the floor with pillows and blankets. "This was my night, bonnet and all," she wrote.
Gov. Greg Abbott convened a special legislative session Friday to attempt to pass the new redistricting plan, but was stymied by the Democratic maneuvering. He immediately called a second session that could last up to 30 days.
Democrats had conditioned their return on the end of the first special session and California releasing its new congressional map to offset the Republican effort.
In response to the move by Texas, California unveiled its proposed map Friday, which would hand Democrats five additional seats in the overwhelmingly liberal state.
