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Texas Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier abruptly left a private call with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders this week, saying that she was told it would be a felony for her to be on the call and be in the Texas Capitol at the same time. Collier, who was on the call with Newsom, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, and others in the middle of a Texas House of Representatives debate over the controversial redistricting bill, spoke before leaving the video call about the Texas voting measure supported by former President Donald Trump.

“The bill before us will prevent Black and brown people from being able to choose the candidate of their choice, because they are cracking and packing these districts,” Collier told the group in her speech before leaving the call. “We have to fight for Texas because it’s not only Texas. This is an assault on all of us.”

In the call, while Martin was speaking, Collier interjected to say she had to leave. “Sorry, I have to leave. They said it’s a felony for me to do this,” Collier told the group. “I can’t be on the floor or in the bathroom,” Collier said before saying something to a man off camera.

“You told me I was only allowed to be here in the bathroom,” Collier said before continuing with the video conference. “No, hang on. Bye everybody. I’ve got to go.” Collier then hung up.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) immediately jumped in after Collier left the call. “Look at that. That is outrageous. I mean, it is. Rep. Collier in the bathroom has more dignity than Donald Trump in the Oval Office, come on,” Booker said. “Seriously, that’s where we are.”

Newsom nodded his head in agreement. Booker, looking intently at Collier’s bathroom window in the background, added, “Look, what they’re trying to do right there is silence an American leader, silence a Black woman, and that is outrageous.”

“That’s what that is, that’s what this is about,” Booker said. “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.”

Democrats Pushing Redistricting Plans in Texas and California

The moment came after one of the most bitter redistricting fights in the nation. Dozens of Texas House Democrats left the state for two weeks to prevent Republicans from having a quorum to pass a bill that Democrats said would infringe on voting protections.

Gov. Greg Abbott and other GOP leaders moved to arrest the Democrats and, if they refused to return, remove them from office.

Once Democrats did return to Austin, the security presence at the state Capitol was ramped up, according to lawmakers. Some members of the Democratic caucus have said DPS officers were assigned to follow them, sometimes watching their offices or even tailing them through the state Capitol.

Members also have said that they have even had to sign “permission slips” when leaving the Capitol under new security measures to make sure a quorum of lawmakers was still at the Capitol.

The Texas bill, if signed by Abbott, could add up to five GOP congressional seats to the state. Democrats say that the new congressional lines, which are drawn every 10 years, would keep Republicans in power for the next decade. To fight that, California Democrats, including Newsom, have unveiled their districting plan.

Working with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Newsom announced a congressional redistricting map in California that would take away as many as five Republican seats, effectively canceling the new GOP congressional seats that Texas could gain if it is successful with its plan.

On Friday, the California plan was released that showed how the Golden State would redraw congressional districts to effectively cancel out gains Republicans could make in Texas.

GOP lawmakers in Texas had limited the work of Democrats’ bid to stall the redistricting bill through a 20-week-long special session of the Legislature, but the Democrats remained at the Capitol after previously leaving the state for two weeks earlier this month. The GOP gained the two-thirds majorities in both chambers during the 2020 election cycles to pursue redistricting without needing Democratic support. Texas GOP lawmakers have said that the new congressional districts in Texas are necessary to provide better representation for new Texans moving to the state.

Friday’s release of the California congressional map came after a tense moment in the Texas House debate on the redistricting bill.

Newsom and Democrats have defended the measure, saying they wanted to ensure minority voters could continue to have representation in districts drawn by Republicans.

The conversation ended with Booker making a point of the time and setting of Collier’s departure from the meeting. “To try to stop her and say it is illegal for her to be in a bathroom and have a conversation,” Booker said, referring to the Texas bill. “That’s what I mean by an assault on this nation and assault on America.”