Texas Democratic Congressional Candidate Dragged Out After Exploding During Redistricting Hearing

In a brazen, unabashed bid for publicity, Isaiah Martin, who is a Democrat running for Houston’s 18th Congressional District, exploded Thursday night during an Austin meeting over redistricting. State House sergeants had to wrestle him to the ground and then drag him out as they arrested him.

(Video Credit: KPRC 2 Click2Houston)

Prelude to breaking quorum and fleeing the state

Martin, 27, ignored repeated warnings to stop spewing talking points after he accused Republicans of rigging the redistricting process in Texas with the approval of President Trump.

The whole volatile episode was caught on video just as Martin and the Democrats intended. They will use this as a pretext to walk off the job to break quorum, so there won’t be enough congressional members present for Republicans to hold a vote. National Democrats are encouraging them to do so.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has vowed to have them hunted down and arrested since they will most likely flee out of state, as they have done so before.

“I am ready, willing, and able to get into good trouble by breaking quorum when justice is on the line,” state Rep. Ron Reynolds (D-Houston) wrote on X.

From Democracy Docket:

If Democrats do decide to break quorum, that path has its limits. They’re only able to block the map for as long as they stay out of the state. Their quorum break in 2021 ended as Democrats gradually trickled back from Washington, D.C. to Austin, while others stayed behind to continue advocating for federal election legislation. The bill they hoped to block became law.

Democrat decries hearing, blames Trump

When Martin began making a scene during his testimony, he challenged the legitimacy of the redistricting hearing.

“It just seems as if many are just sitting here going with their motions, and it makes sense because the game is rigged,” he declared.

Then he went on to accuse Texas Republicans of gerrymandering districts.

“You gotta get Trump’s endorsement. That’s the name of the game to be a Republican nowadays,” Martin railed. “Trump told every single one of you that he needs five seats. … But the real conversation we should be having … is that there will be a retaliation for that.”

Gerrymandering is a favorite pastime for leftists. Martin proved that point by informing everyone there that blue states are redrawing their maps in response.

“Gov. Kathy Hochul said that she will be gerrymandering Republicans out,” he remarked. “The same thing is gonna happen in New Jersey.”

Then Marin turned to economic issues in the Lone Star State.

“We live in a state that is unaffordable … property taxes going up … despite the fact that you Republicans have been in office for nearly 30 straight years,” he spewed.

In Austin, which is a Democrat-run city, much like Houston, that may be true. But in the red areas of the state, that has never been the case. Which, of course, Martin knows. Taxes have been the oppressive security blanket of elitist Democrats, and it has been that way since their inception.

Then, Martin had the nerve to stand on the dead bodies of children to make a political point: “After one of the worst mass casualty events in our state’s history, you choose to go and gerrymander people out of their seats.”

His heinous grandstanding is referring to massive flash floods that have killed scores of Texans, many of them children, recently.

Another Democrat pitches a fit

That vile political posturing caused an uproar, and Rep. Cody Vasut, the House Redistricting Committee chair, tried in vain to regain order. Martin just would not shut up – he wanted his 15 minutes of political fame.

“No, I’m not going to finish. Because I’m … I’m NOT finished!” he screamed.

“You can thank your failed, senile, dilapidated, Epstein-partying with president for all of the work that we’re about to do to every single one of you,” he sneered, referring to President Trump. “You did this, you caused this, and this is the result of you and your work.”

Vasut then instructed state House sergeants to remove Martin. He made it as difficult as possible, throwing dignity and decorum to the wind. A predictably staged audience shouted, “Get off of him!” 

Then Martin did what communist Democrats do so well… he incited violence and revolution, yelling, “America will rise up against you!”

The committee resumed its business after the incident.

No real justice served

The young Democrat was charged with resisting arrest, criminal trespassing, and disrupting a public meeting.

But as is always the case, instead of letting the provocateur rot for a few days in jail where he belongs, Martin was released from the Travis County Jail on Friday. All charges were dropped. Of course, he used that leniency to then post a video on X thanking his supporters and pledging to continue to protest.

After Martin was released, he whined to CBS Austin’s reporter, Abigail Velez, that he spent more than a full day in jail with little to no communication with his family. Playing the martyr to the hilt, he also said he’d “do it again for the people of Texas.”

Following the law

From Fox News:

Abbott has previously described the redistricting effort as a compliance move following court rulings against coalition districts.

In a July 7 letter cited by The Dallas Examiner, the Department of Justice flagged TX‑18 as one of four congressional districts in Texas that may involve unconstitutional racial gerrymandering through “coalition district” configurations.

Trump has publicly called on state lawmakers to secure five additional Republican House seats through redistricting. 

The map remains unfinished, with hearings continuing Saturday in Houston and Monday in Arlington.

The stench of Democratic politics

California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted a video on X of Martin being dragged out of the hearing, calling it “shameful.” He couldn’t resist making it all about him either.

From KVUE ABC:

Martin is one of eight Democrats currently running in a special election in Texas’ 18th congressional district, which encompasses part of Houston, to replace the late Congressman Sylvester Turner, who died on March 5. The election will take place on Nov. 4 as a nonpartisan primary, meaning all candidates will appear on one ballot, with the top two advancing to a runoff if no one gains more than 50% of the vote. The district is considered a safely Democratic seat.

Which explains why he decided to make a scene. It was self-serving if nothing else.

This is the first of seven meetings that will be held on redistricting in Texas, and others that follow will likely put on a show as well.

See RAIR-related articles:

• Is Your State On The List? Obama and Holder Hijack the Redistricting Process to Seize Republican Areas
• WARNING: Barack Obama & Eric Holder’s Gerrymandering Group Paying off for Democrats

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