A Fort Worth lawmaker’s sit-in on the Texas House floor picked up steam late Tuesday as fellow Democrats flocked to her side for the second night of her round-the-clock vigil after she refused to allow a state trooper to shadow her until the chamber could vote on a new congressional map.

Rep. Rhetta Bowers, D-Rowlett, stands near a press gaggle outside of the Texas House on Aug. 18, 2025. Texas Democrats left the state to fight redistricting at the national level, returning after two weeks to resume work in the state. Credit: Lorianne Willett for The Texas Tribune