Texas Democrats flee Chicago hotel over bomb threat

Texas Democrats Evacuated After Bomb Threat in Illinois

A group of Texas Democrats who had left the state to protest a redistricting bill were temporarily evacuated from their hotel in the Chicago area on Wednesday after receiving a bomb threat. The incident occurred at a hotel located in St. Charles, Illinois, west of Chicago. According to local authorities, first responders arrived around 7:15 a.m. and conducted a thorough search of the premises, finding no explosive devices.

The St. Charles Police Department stated that approximately 400 people were evacuated from the hotel as a precautionary measure. Law enforcement officials secured the area while bomb squad units carried out their investigation. Once the threat was cleared, all guests and staff were allowed to return to the hotel.

State Representative Ann Johnson, one of the Democrats involved, confirmed the evacuation in a statement, saying, “A bomb threat forced us to evacuate our hotel.” She added, “Thankfully, no one was harmed.”

The House Democratic caucus and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker both confirmed that a threat had been made. Pritzker emphasized that threats of violence would be investigated thoroughly and that those responsible would face consequences. He also directed Illinois state police to conduct a full investigation into the matter.

Pritzker later told reporters that a right-wing podcaster had shared a video showing the location where the Texas Democrats were staying. He said the podcaster had even posted a map pinpointing the exact hotel. Pritzker assured the public that law enforcement would take action to identify and arrest the individuals behind the threat.

Texas state Representative Ramon Romero Jr., one of the lawmakers who left the state, described the situation as “a little scary” because it was unclear whether the threat was credible. However, he noted that law enforcement responded quickly to the situation.

Political Context: Redistricting and Legislative Tactics

The Texas Democrats left the state last Sunday to prevent a quorum in the Texas House of Representatives, which would have allowed Republicans to advance a redistricting bill. The bill aims to redraw congressional districts, potentially giving the Republican Party more representation in Congress.

This move came after President Trump urged Texas Republicans to conduct a rare mid-decade redistricting, claiming that the current maps favored the GOP. Texas currently has 38 representatives in Congress, with 23 Republicans and 15 Democrats. Under the new proposed maps, the GOP could gain up to five additional seats.

As the week progressed, Texas Republicans intensified their efforts to bring the Democrats back to the state to secure a quorum. On Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court to remove state Representative Gene Wu from office, labeling him the “ringleader” of the quorum break.

Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that he would ask a judge to declare certain seats vacant if the Democrats did not return by Friday. Abbott had previously called for civil arrests of the Democrats, requesting the Texas Department of Public Safety to bring them back for the vote. However, the department does not have jurisdiction outside of Texas, prompting U.S. Senator John Cornyn, who is challenging Paxton in the GOP primary, to write a letter to the FBI asking for intervention.

President Trump also weighed in, suggesting that the FBI might need to get involved in the situation. His comments highlighted the growing tension between state and federal authorities over the ongoing legislative dispute.