Democratic Candidate Arrested After Outburst at Texas Redistricting Hearing

Tensions ran high at the Texas Capitol Thursday as lawmakers held their first public hearing on a controversial plan to redraw the state’s congressional map just four years after the last one was finalized.

The five-hour hearing, hosted by the Texas House Redistricting Committee, drew dozens of speakers from across the state, CBS Austin reported. Not a single person spoke in favor of the redistricting effort.

The most dramatic moment came at the end, when District 18 congressional candidate Isaiah Martin was forcibly removed by Capitol security after refusing to stop speaking when his two-minute limit ran out.

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“The sergeants are directed to remove the gentleman from the room,” said Chairman Cody Vasut, as Martin struggled with security and shouted, “History will not remember you for what you have done!”

According to online jail records, Martin was arrested by the Texas Department of Public Safety and is now facing charges of criminal trespassing, resisting arrest, and disrupting an official meeting.

His brother posted on social media that Isaiah may be in jail for up to three days.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) claims the mid-cycle redistricting is necessary to address constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ flagged four Democratic-held, majority-minority districts as potential legal issues.

But many speakers rejected that reasoning.

“We deserve representation,” said Gabriel Rosales, Texas director for the League of United Latin American Citizens. “It is your responsibility to allow for diversity to be a part of the representation that we have going to Congress.”

Republican members of the committee barely engaged with those testifying, according to a report. At times, GOP state lawmakers were seen checking their phones or talking among themselves, frustrating Democratic panel members.

“I guess we’ll see at the end of this process whether the people sitting around these dioses are listening to this or whether it’s a kangaroo court.” Rep. Jolanda Jones complained.

No draft maps were released during the hearing, and no official explanation was given about which districts could be affected.

Abbott’s office maintains the move is in response to a July letter from the DOJ, which said District 33 and three other seats may be racially gerrymandered.

But many speakers argued the real reason is political pressure from Washington; President Trump has publicly urged Texas Republicans to add five more GOP-leaning seats before the 2026 midterms.

Texas has 38 congressional seats—25 currently held by Republicans.

“Have you seen any proposed maps that the White House or Trump’s operatives have sent?” asked Rep. Chris Turner. “No,” replied the Republican chair.