A Texas Democrat’s overnight sit-in at the state Capitol exposed the lengths some will go to dodge accountability.
State Rep. Nicole Collier, the lone holdout among returning Democrats, refused to sign House Speaker Dustin Burrows’ agreement requiring a DPS trooper escort after their two-week quorum-breaking stunt halted critical legislation. This defiance left her holed up in the House chamber, a theatrical protest against what she called government overreach, as Breitbart reports.
“I have a right to resist,” Collier told CBS, claiming her stand mirrored Texans’ defiance of bad policy. Resist? Sounds like a tantrum when the quorum break she joined derailed a redistricting map and flood relief for devastated communities.
Nearly two weeks ago, Collier and her Democrat Caucus colleagues fled the House, breaking quorum to block a congressional redistricting map. Their absence stalled a special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott, freezing not just redistricting but also vital flood warning system upgrades for the Texas Hill Country. That region, ravaged by Independence Day flooding, deserved better than political gamesmanship.
The redistricting map, which could secure five additional Republican U.S. House seats, was a prime target of the Democrats’ exodus. Their tactic wasn’t about principle; it was a calculated move to thwart the will of Texas voters who elected a Republican majority. Collier’s refusal to sign the escort agreement only doubled down on this obstruction.
House Speaker Burrows, a Lubbock Republican, imposed the escort requirement to ensure Democrats couldn’t pull another vanishing act. It’s a practical response to a caucus that treated legislative duty like an optional book club. Yet Collier framed it as oppression, crying “forced” confinement to CBS News.
Collier’s overnight stay in the House chamber was less a bold stand than a performative sulk. House officials eventually let her move freely to her Capitol office, undermining her martyr narrative. If she wanted to challenge bad decisions, as she claimed, perhaps she should’ve stayed to debate instead of fleeing.
“I’m challenging these decisions that I don’t agree with,” Collier insisted to CBS. Challenging decisions by abandoning her post? That’s not resistance; it’s dereliction dressed up as heroism.
The quorum break’s fallout was significant, delaying not just redistricting but also critical infrastructure bills. Texas Hill Country residents, still reeling from flood damage, were left waiting while Democrats played hide-and-seek. Collier’s solo protest only highlighted her party’s disconnect from real-world priorities.
Once the Democrat Caucus returned, the Texas House regained its quorum and got back to work in the second special session. The House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting swiftly met and passed the revised map with a 12-8 partisan vote. A full House vote on the map is expected by Wednesday, signaling progress despite the earlier sabotage.
Meanwhile, the Texas Senate committee approved a similar redistricting map on Sunday. The Senate is poised to debate and vote on its measure later this week, keeping the process on track. Collier’s stunt, it seems, was a speed bump, not a roadblock.
Collier’s claim of defending her voters’ rights rings hollow when her actions delayed solutions for flood-ravaged Texans. Rights come with responsibilities, like showing up to vote on legislation that affects millions. Her protest was a sideshow, not a service.
The redistricting map, now advancing in both chambers, reflects Texas’ conservative majority, which Democrats seem loath to accept. Their quorum break was a desperate bid to cling to influence they couldn’t win at the ballot box. Collier’s defiance only underscores this futile resistance.
House officials’ decision to let Collier roam the Capitol shows they’re more interested in governance than petty power plays. Burrows’s escort rule wasn’t about control; it was about ensuring the people’s business gets done. Democrats might learn from that pragmatism.
Texas voters deserve representatives who engage, not evade. Collier’s overnight campout may have grabbed headlines, but it’s the stalled flood relief and redistricting progress that Texans will remember. Her “resistance” is just noise in a state demanding results.
