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Texas Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier abruptly ended a private call with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other party leaders earlier this week, after she said she was told it was a felony to be on the meeting from the Texas Capitol. The bizarre scene highlighted the tension over the Lone Star State’s controversial redistricting bill, which Democrats say violates federal voting protections.

Collier joined the virtual call with Newsom, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, and other party officials while lawmakers in the Texas House of Representatives were debating a redistricting bill backed by former President Donald Trump. While speaking on the call, the lawmaker argued that the map violates the Voting Rights Act and would diminish the power of minority communities to elect their preferred candidates.

“This bill will not allow Black and brown people to elect the candidate of their choice because they’re cracking and packing these districts,” Collier said during the call.

Collier called out to a person off-camera about a minute and 30 seconds into the meeting. “I’m sorry, I have to leave. They said it’s a felony for me to do this,” Collier then told the group, including Martin, as the California governor was speaking on the call. “I can’t be on the floor or in the bathroom,” she added.

Collier then turned to someone off-camera and said, “You told me I was only allowed to be here in the bathroom.”

Turning back to the call, she said, “No, hang on. Bye, everybody. I’ve got to go.” She then hung up.

Booker Calls Incident “Outrageous”

Her departure shocked some on the call. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker called the incident “outrageous” and complimented Collier for her “dignity.”

“Let me tell you something, Rep. Collier in the bathroom has more dignity than Donald Trump in the Oval Office,” Booker said.

Newsom nodded in agreement, and Booker continued, “This is what it is, man. What they’re trying to do right there is silence an American leader, silence a Black woman, and that is outrageous. 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.”

Redistricting Fight Between Texas and California Heats Up

Booker’s comments came as Texas and California were waging one of the most fierce redistricting fights in the country. In a high-profile attempt to prevent the controversial legislation from passing, dozens of Democratic members of the Texas House had fled the state for two weeks to block a quorum. Republicans tried to arrest the lawmakers after they fled, but Democrats disappeared into nearby states to stall the legislation.

Abbott and other GOP leaders threatened to arrest and remove the Democrats from office if they didn’t return. When the Democrats eventually returned to Austin, the Texas Capitol had a different feel. Lawmakers said they were greeted by Texas Department of Public Safety officers at the Capitol who were assigned to follow them. Lawmakers said the officers sometimes guarded their offices or patrolled the halls, trailing lawmakers.

The DPS also apparently forced some lawmakers to sign “permission slips” if they wanted to leave the Capitol, lawmakers said. The officers were assigned as part of efforts to ensure a quorum in case Democrats try to flee again.

The Texas bill would add as many as five Republican seats to Congress, Democrats said. In California, Newsom and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) unveiled a congressional map on Friday that could eliminate five Republican seats, effectively wiping out potential gains in Texas.

California Democrats revealed their redistricting map on Friday, which they said would undercut the Texas GOP’s gains in a decade-long effort to cement Republican power in the Lone Star State.

Redistricting efforts in the U.S. have gained more attention from other states in recent years. As both parties in Congress vie for control of the House in the next two election cycles, each new congressional district will have a political impact. Democrats have latched on to the battle in Texas and are making the conflict a voting rights issue as well as an attempt to quash minority voters.

Fox News Digital contacted the offices of Booker, Newsom, and Collier for more information but did not receive an immediate response. Collier’s office declined to comment, citing that the Texas House is in session.