Isaiah Martin Arrested at Texas Redistricting Protest

Houston congressional candidate Isaiah Martin was forcibly removed and arrested during a contentious Texas House redistricting hearing after refusing to yield the floor while denouncing Republican-led efforts to redraw the state's congressional districts. Martin, running for the 18th District, criticized the GOP's redistricting as gerrymandering to entrench their power, a move endorsed by Governor Greg Abbott and former President Donald Trump. After exceeding his allotted speaking time, Martin was tackled by security and arrested on charges including resisting arrest, criminal trespass, and disrupting a public meeting. He spent more than 24 hours in jail before the charges were dropped. The incident has drawn attention to Texas Republicans' redistricting efforts, which could impact the U.S. House balance after the 2026 midterms. The episode has also sparked debate over free speech and political protest at the Texas Capitol.