Democrat Hauled Out of Hearing, Arrested After Falling on His Face [WATCH]

A Democratic congressional candidate was arrested Thursday after he disrupted a redistricting hearing at the Texas State Capitol and was forcibly removed from the committee room by capitol security.

Isaiah Martin, 27, a candidate in the special election to represent Texas’ 18th Congressional District, was taken into custody after exceeding his speaking time and refusing to yield during a House Redistricting Committee meeting in Austin.

“It is a shame. It is horrific. For what you have …” Martin shouted as security officers attempted to remove him from the room.

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A sergeant-at-arms ultimately fell on top of Martin during the physical altercation. Video from the scene shows bystanders reacting as Martin was taken to the ground.

“Jesus! Get off of him!” a woman in the crowd yelled as the incident unfolded.

A security officer responded, “He tripped,” after the takedown.

Texas Democrat Congressional candidate Isaiah Martin ARRESTED after unhinged meltdown at a committee hearing and resisting security

Martin is now facing charges including resisting arrest, criminal trespass, and disrupting a meeting or procession. pic.twitter.com/DOOU1Do3zo

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 25, 2025

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Martin, who is seeking to replace the late Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Texas), was arrested and booked into Travis County Jail on multiple charges.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Martin was charged with criminal trespass, disrupting a meeting or procession, and resisting arrest, as first reported by KVUE.

Martin’s brother said on social media that all charges were dropped by Friday and that Isaiah was expected to be released.

He alleged that authorities were attempting to make “an example” out of the congressional candidate.

“He shouldn’t have been arrested in the first place,” he stated, adding that Martin “willingly walked with the officers out of the building.”

UPDATE: Isaiah will be released from Travis County Jail tonight. Thank you to everyone who personally reached out to help move the needle on his release. Nobody should be detained for their freedom of speech, and I’m grateful for the love and support. pic.twitter.com/mMj3mh0uqm

— Isaiah Martin (@isaiahrmartin) July 26, 2025

The arrest occurred after Martin exceeded the two-minute limit for public comment during the hearing and continued speaking even after his microphone was turned off.

Republican state Rep. Cody Vasut, who chaired the hearing, ordered the sergeant-at-arms to remove Martin from the room. It reportedly took three officers to restrain and escort him out.

Outside the hearing room, Martin was again seen on the ground in the hallway.

“America will rise up against you!” he shouted as he was taken away.

Martin previously worked as a congressional staffer for the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas).

He is currently one of eight Democratic candidates running in the special election to fill the seat left vacant by Turner’s death on March 5. The district includes portions of the Houston area.

Martin has voiced strong opposition to Republican-backed redistricting proposals, which aim to reshape congressional maps in Texas.

The plan could potentially create up to five additional winnable districts for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The incident has drawn attention to the ongoing partisan conflict over redistricting in Texas, where Republican lawmakers maintain control of the state legislature.

The House Redistricting Committee’s proposed changes are expected to face challenges from Democrats and civil rights organizations in the coming months.

The special election for Texas’ 18th Congressional District has not yet been scheduled.