After Democrats returned to the Texas statehouse, Republican leadership assigned law enforcement officers to monitor them to prevent further delays to their plan to redraw congressional voting districts to favor Republicans ahead of the election.

The Capitol grounds were cleared after 7 p.m. as a demonstration against a GOP redistricting plan was about to begin. Texas lawmakers and staff members were allowed to remain inside the Capitol.

A Democratic state lawmaker who fled Texas in protest of a GOP redistricting effort is asking a court to let her exit the Capitol, after she was told she needs a police escort to leave the building.

The Fort Worth Democrat was confined in the Capitol overnight after refusing to be shadowed by state police, a requirement for lawmakers who had left the state.

Collier is among the Texas House Democrats who broke quorum to block mid-decade congressional redistricting. She and at least 51 other lawmakers left the Capitol to block a map that opponents say would disenfranchise voters and position Republicans to gain five seats in Congress.

The Capitol grounds were closed as protesters gathered in support of Rep. Nicole Collier, who is staying on the House floor in protest.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday threw her support behind Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier, who has spent two nights effectively trapped inside the state Capitol after refusing Republican demands that she agree to 24-hour police surveillance.

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer says for “most Americans” Vice President Kamala Harris is a “blank slate”.