Texas Democrat state Rep. Nicole Collier had to abruptly leave a call with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other party members after she was told she was committing a felony.

The redrawing of Texas’s map is the first battle in a coast-to-coast war over redistricting between GOP-led states and those controlled by Democrats.

Texas Republicans mandated that Democratic lawmakers not be allowed to leave the state house without a permission slip and a police escort.

A Texas Democratic state lawmaker abruptly left a call with Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin and other top party leaders on Wednesday after she was warned she was committing a felony.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives on Wednesday kicked off a heated debate over a new congressional map creating five new potential GOP seats that is expected to pass the chamber later in the day as part of a growing national redistricting battle.

Other Texas Democrats, including from DFW, joined Rep. Nicole Collier after they tore up their “permission slips” to leave the chamber.

The vote comes more than two weeks after dozens of Democrats left Texas, stalling a vote on new congressional maps favoring Republicans.

Texas Republicans insisted that Democrats have around-the-clock police escorts to ensure they wouldn’t leave again.