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Texas Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier abruptly ended a private call this week with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders after saying she was warned it was a felony for her to be on the call while in the Texas Capitol. The moment was captured on camera and highlighted a growing war of words over the Lone Star State’s controversial redistricting bill, which Democrats have accused of violating federal voting protections.

Collier was on the Zoom video call with Newsom, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, and other Democrats on Thursday evening while lawmakers in the Texas House of Representatives were debating a redistricting bill backed by former President Donald Trump. Collier, who spoke on the call, criticized the map for violating the Voting Rights Act and disenfranchising minority voters.

“This bill will prevent Black and brown people from electing the candidates of their choice because they’re cracking and packing these districts,” Collier told the group.

Collier was approximately 30 minutes into her discussion with the group when she abruptly interrupted Martin while he was speaking to say she had to leave. “Sorry, I have to leave. They said it’s a felony for me to do this,” she said to the group, adding: “Apparently, I can’t be on the floor or in the bathroom.” She then said a final goodbye to the camera and turned to an unidentified person.

“You told me I was only allowed to be here in the bathroom,” Collier said to the unknown individual. Addressing the call again, she added, “No, hang on. Bye everybody. I’ve got to go.” And with that, Collier abruptly hung up.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) was in the room and expressed outrage at Collier being told she could not be in the bathroom or on the call. “This is outrageous,” he said. “I got to tell you, Rep. Collier in the bathroom has more dignity than Donald Trump in the Oval Office.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) nodded in agreement. Booker then continued, using the moment to hammer Republicans for their treatment of Collier. “What they’re trying to do right there is silence an American leader, silence a Black woman, and that is outrageous,” he 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 Put Heat on Texas GOP Over Redistricting Bill

The incident came after one of the most intense political battles over redistricting in the country. Days earlier, dozens of Democratic members of the Texas House fled the state for nearly two weeks to block Republicans from holding a quorum and taking up the controversial legislation. Republicans, led by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, responded by ordering the lawmakers arrested and threatening to have them removed from office.

When Democrats eventually returned to the state Capitol in Austin, members said they were met by a hostile reception as they reentered the building. Legislators said Texas Department of Public Safety officers were now assigned to monitor their movements, sometimes by standing watch outside their offices or following lawmakers as they walked through the state Capitol. Some Democratic lawmakers even said they were forced to sign “permission slips” before leaving the Capitol as a condition of the security presence put in place to guard against a repeat of the walkout.

Democrats have vocally opposed the Texas bill, which could add as many as five new Republican congressional seats in a state that already heavily favors the GOP. The measure would solidify Republican power for a decade, Democrats say, and add to the party’s majorities in the Texas House and Senate. In response to the Texas bill, Newsom, in coordination with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), put forward a new congressional map that was drawn to eliminate five Republican seats in California, nullifying the possible gains Republicans were seeking in Texas.

On Friday, the California map was made public, providing Democrats with a solution to possible Republican inroads in Texas, as they were mapping out a new landscape of representation on the West Coast.

The incident highlights a growing spillover of the redistricting fights into national politics. In Texas, California, and other states across the country, Democrats and Republicans are competing over the lines and seeing every new district as a crucial gain in their efforts to control Congress next year. Democrats have been unified in opposition to the Texas redistricting plan, using the battle to amplify what they say is voter suppression as they seek to hold onto the House of Representatives in next year’s elections.

For now, Collier’s abrupt hanging up on fellow Democrats from the bathroom of the Texas Capitol remains one of the most memorable moments from the session so far: A lawmaker forced to end a meeting with her party leaders because she was told it was a felony for her to be there or on the phone.