.

Democratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier abruptly hung up on a private call with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other party leaders this week after being warned it would be a felony to participate while inside the Texas Capitol.

The moment revealed a striking escalation in the battle over the controversial redistricting bill that Texas Republicans are rushing to pass despite Democratic claims it will violate federal voting protections.

Collier appeared on the call with Newsom, DNC Chair Ken Martin, and other party officials at the same time the Texas House of Representatives was debating a redistricting bill favored by former President Donald Trump. In remarks to the group, Collier criticized the bill, which she said would undercut the Voting Rights Act and minority communities’ abilities to elect candidates of their choice.

“This bill will prevent Black and brown individuals from selecting the candidates of their choice because they’re cracking and packing these districts,” Collier said during the call.

Approximately 30 minutes into the conversation, Collier cut in on Martin’s comments, saying, “Sorry, I have to leave. They said it’s a felony for me to do this,” she told the group. “I can’t be on the floor or in the bathroom,” she said, before speaking to an unidentified individual out of camera view.

“You told me I was only allowed to be here in the bathroom,” Collier continued, referencing the individual off-camera. Addressing the group again, she added, “No, hang on. Bye everybody. I’ve got to go.” With that, Collier hung up.

The abrupt departure left the group in shock. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said the moment was “outrageous” and lauded Collier for her strength.

“You know what, Rep. Collier in the bathroom has more dignity than Donald Trump in the Oval Office,” Booker said.

Newsom nodded in agreement. “I just want to make sure we’re — in addition to supporting her, we’re following up with her. I know you, Cory, are,” he added.

Booker continued his criticism of the attempt to stop Collier from being on the call. “What they’re trying to do right there is silence an American leader, silence a Black woman, and that is outrageous,” 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,” Booker said.

GOP, Dem Redistricting War Escalates In Texas and California

The exchange followed some of the most bitter infighting over a redistricting bill in recent memory in the Lone Star State. Dozens of Democratic members of the Texas House fled the state for more than two weeks in a highly publicized bid to deprive Republicans of the ability to achieve a quorum and move forward on legislation.

In retaliation, Gov. Greg Abbott and other GOP leaders threatened to arrest the absent Democrats, calling the move an abuse of power and warning that lawmakers could be removed from office if they did not return to Austin.

When Democrats finally did return to the Texas Capitol, the mood had changed. Members have since said Texas Department of Public Safety troopers have been sent to the Capitol to track lawmakers’ movements, with some stationed outside lawmakers’ offices and others following members throughout the building. Several members said they had to sign “permission slips” to leave the Capitol under the tightened security measures that were installed to ensure quorum would not be lost again.

The Texas bill itself would add as many as five new Republican congressional seats, according to critics, which would add to GOP dominance for the next decade. To combat the new map, California Democrats announced their redistricting battle plans. Newsom, in partnership with the DCCC, earlier this month released a new congressional map in California, one that would potentially erase five Republican congressional seats – a direct offset of Texas’ potential gains.

The new map was released on Friday and illustrated how Democrats would aim to redraw California representation in a way that could completely erase the new GOP seats in Texas.

Democrats and Republicans are engaged in battles over redistricting in several states this year that will set up legislative and congressional maps for the next decade. For both parties, the issues have become personal. Control of the U.S. House of Representatives could well rest on newly formed congressional districts, making the results in Texas and elsewhere critical.

In Texas, Democrats have turned the fight into a rallying cry about voting rights abuses they say will result from the GOP’s efforts to redraw the state’s legislative and congressional districts.