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Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier (D) had to abruptly leave a call with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders this week after being told it was a felony for her to be in the Texas Capitol and on the call at the same time.

The bizarre scene on the private call highlighted the intensifying drama over Texas’s controversial redistricting bill, which Democrats claim tramples federal voting rights.

Collier participated in the virtual meeting with Newsom, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin, and others from the Texas Capitol on Tuesday, where the Texas House of Representatives was in the process of debating a redistricting bill favored by former President Donald Trump.

The Texas Democrat used her time on the call to speak about the merits of the redistricting bill Democrats have railed against. The Democrats claim the bill in question violates the Voting Rights Act and that it weakens the ability of minority voters to elect the 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, who is Black, said during her remarks.

Collier was roughly 30 minutes into the call, which featured her on video alongside Newsom and Martin, when she interrupted her former boss’s remarks to tell the group that she had to get off.

“I have to leave,” Collier told the group while exiting the video portion of the call. “Sorry, I have to leave. They said it’s a felony for me to do this.” She then added, “Apparently, I can’t be on the floor or in the bathroom,” before turning to address someone off camera.

“You told me I was only allowed to be here in the bathroom,” Collier then said back to the person who had supposedly made such a threat, before turning back to the call. “No, hang on. Bye everybody. I’ve got to go.”

With those final words, Collier disconnected from the call.

The move left stunned those who were on the call, which New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D) was a part of. Booker told the group that what had just transpired was “outrageous” while praising Collier for her composure.

“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 before Booker continued his comments while appealing to a larger message of what had just happened. “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.”

Texas, California Engage in Latest ‘Arm Wrestling Match’ Over Congressional Maps

The confrontation between Texas Democrats and Republicans comes as both parties are embroiled in one of the most hotly-contested redistricting battles in recent years. In a bid to stall the redistricting bill, dozens of Texas House Democrats fled the state for two weeks in a high-profile gambit to deny Republicans a quorum needed to pass the measure.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Texas GOP leadership then ordered the arrests of those lawmakers and threatened to remove them from office if they did not return to Austin.

Democrats would later return to the state Capitol, but the tenor at the Texas Capitol has changed since they went back. Democrats have since reported that Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officials had assigned themselves to shadow the Democratic lawmakers at all times. In some instances, DPS officers have reportedly stood guard outside of lawmakers’ offices or followed them around the Capitol building. In one instance, lawmakers described having to sign “permission slips” to leave the Capitol.

The redistricting bill itself would add as many as five GOP congressional seats, according to Democrats who say the measure would solidify Republican control in the state for the next decade.

Democrats in California have said they plan on taking the fight to Texas and have unveiled a redistricting map of their own, which could eliminate five Republican congressional seats. Newsom is working in concert with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) to draw new congressional district lines in California that are more favorable to Democrats and could wipe out GOP gains made in Texas.

On Friday, the new California map was released.

The story is a striking example of how redistricting fights in one state are becoming increasingly nationalized as both parties jockey for control of Congress in the years to come. Every new district matters, and with control of the House up for grabs in 2022 and 2024, Democrats have turned Texas’ legislative fight into a symbol of voting rights issues as well as a rallying cry to try to keep Republicans from further cracking and packing minority voting blocs.

Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Booker and Newsom but did not immediately receive a comment. Collier’s office declined to elaborate on what had transpired, saying that the Texas House is still in session.