Texas redistricting listening to descends into chaos
Isaiah Martin, a Democrat working within the 18th Congressional District in Houston, needed to be restrained and faraway from Thursday’s Home committee listening to on redistricting after exceeding his time to testify. (Isaiah Martin through Storyful)
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Tensions boiled over on the Texas Capitol Thursday evening, when a Democratic congressional candidate was forcibly eliminated and arrested throughout a risky redistricting listening to.
Isaiah Martin, working for Houston’s 18th Congressional District, defied repeated warnings to cease talking after testimony accusing Republicans of rigging the redistricting course of to appease President Donald Trump.
Footage from the listening to exhibits Martin collapsing as he was pulled from the room by authorities.
“Historical past will NOT bear in mind you for what you may have DONE! It’s a disgrace!” he yelled, prompting audible gasps from the group. He was charged with resisting arrest, prison trespass and disrupting a public assembly.
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Isaiah Martin, heart, a Democratic candidate for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, is confronted by sergeants throughout a redistricting listening to on the Texas Capitol in Austin, Thursday, after refusing to yield throughout a heated alternate with Republican lawmakers. (Texas Home)
Martin was launched from the Travis County Jail Friday, and all expenses have been dropped. He later posted a video on X thanking supporters and pledging to proceed talking out.
Martin started his testimony Thursday by difficult the legitimacy of the listening to.
“It simply appears as if many are simply sitting right here going with their motions, and it is sensible as a result of the sport is rigged,” he mentioned.
He then accused Texas Republicans of gerrymandering at Trump’s request.
“You gotta get Trump’s endorsement. That’s the secret to be a Republican these days,” Martin mentioned. “Trump advised each single certainly one of you that he wants 5 seats. … However the true dialog we must be having … is that there will probably be a retaliation for that.”
Martin cited blue states he claimed are redrawing maps in response.
“Gov. Kathy Hochul mentioned that she will probably be gerrymanding Republicans out,” he mentioned. “The identical factor is gonna occur in New Jersey.”
Martin additionally attacked Texas’ management over financial points.
“We reside in a state that’s unaffordable … property taxes going up … even if you Republicans have been in workplace for almost 30 straight years,” he mentioned.
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Isaiah Martin, a Democratic candidate for Texas’s 18th Congressional District, is forcibly eliminated by sergeants throughout a redistricting listening to in Austin July 24, 2025, after refusing to yield following heated testimony criticizing Republican lawmakers and President Donald Trump. (Isaiah Martin through Storyful)
Criticizing the timing of the redistricting course of, he added, “After one of many worst mass casualty occasions in our state’s historical past, you select to go and gerrymander folks out of their seats.”
Rep. Cody Vasut, the Home Redistricting Committee chair, tried to regain order, however Martin refused to yield.
“No, I’m not going to complete. As a result of I’m … I’m NOT completed!”
Martin then turned his ire towards Trump.
“You’ll be able to thank your failed, senile, dilapidated, Epstein-partying with president for the entire work that we’re about to do to each single certainly one of you,” he mentioned. “You probably did this, you induced this and that is the results of you and your work.”
Vasut instructed state Home sergeants to take away Martin. As Martin was dragged from the room, viewers members shouted, “Get off of him!”
Martin continued shouting, “America will stand up towards you!”
The committee resumed with out commenting on the disruption.
The Texas State Capitol in Austin, the place Isaiah Martin was arrested for refusing to yield throughout testimony Thursday. (Brandon Bell/Getty Photographs)
Neither Martin’s marketing campaign nor Gov. Greg Abbott‘s workplace responded to Fox Information Digital’s requests for remark.
Abbott has beforehand described the redistricting effort as a compliance transfer following courtroom rulings towards coalition districts.
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In a July 7 letter cited by The Dallas Examiner, the Division of Justice flagged TX‑18 as certainly one of 4 congressional districts in Texas that will contain unconstitutional racial gerrymandering via “coalition district” configurations.
Trump has publicly referred to as on state lawmakers to safe 5 further Republican Home seats via redistricting.
The map stays unfinished, with hearings persevering with Saturday in Houston and Monday in Arlington.
Fox Information’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
