As we reported earlier in the week, the Texas House passed the bill on the redistricting maps that Democrats had been trying to block for weeks, including by fleeing the state and breaking quorum.
The next step for the bill was the Texas Senate, and on Friday, the Senate finally voted on the bill. But the Democrats pulled out one final desperate stalling tactic.
READ MORE: Texas House Votes on Redistricting Maps, With Final Moments of Drama
State Senator Carol Alvarado, the leader of the Senate Democratic caucus, vowed to filibuster the bill for as long as she could. How off the rails was she? She even got a catheter installed so that she wouldn't have to stop to go to the bathroom, according to reports.
Texas Democratic state Sen. Carol Alvarado announced plans Friday to filibuster a Republican-led redistricting bill — and while she’s holding the floor, she won’t be holding it in.
Alvarado, 57, prepped for what could be a marathon speech by having a catheter inserted and attaching a urine bag to herself, according to multiple outlets.
The Houston-area Democrat even purchased a “long blue flowered dress to hide the bag,” the Washington Post reported.
She said it was "going to be a long night" and she'd been "prepping for a few days."
Texas Sen. Carol Alvarado is prepping to filibuster the Senate redistricting bill tonight. Her team says she got an IV fusion, catheter w/ urine bag, and did hot yoga to prepare. She’s aiming to top her 15hr record. Senate is in recess until 11:30P.
— Abigail Velez (@velez_tx) August 23, 2025
📸: @CarolforTexas @cbsaustin pic.twitter.com/QHAvYh6eAV
Ah, Democrat theater kids, they're something else. It's so dumb when you can't stop it - it's just a waste of time, it's performance for their base. But it turns out that wasn't all, according to the Republicans.
Republicans then accused Alvarado of trying to fundraise off the filibuster. Here's State Sen. Charles Perry, who said it was unprecedented and that it violated the traditions of the Senate. He said doing that was thus holding State employees at work for campaign fundraising.
The Texas Senate returns from recess and Senator Charles Perry kills Senator Alvarado’s “campaign fundraiser” planned filibuster of HB 4 congressional redistricting. #txlege pic.twitter.com/mOOVz4gM8Z
— Kristie Rutledge
It should be noted that the Texas House Democrats were fined and are also being charged for the costs involved in responding to their actions.
Here’s part of the memo sent to Texas House Democrats who broke quorum. Shows the members incurred a $7k fine per day absence plus a share of the $125k costs incurred by the House, per the memo. Payment due 8/25. #txlege pic.twitter.com/3t4iaiXG2R
— Brad Johnson (@bradj_TX) August 22, 2025
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