Texas Democrats Evacuated in Chicago Bomb Threat Amid Redistricting Standoff

Texas House Democrats, who left the state to block a Republican-backed congressional redistricting plan favored by President Trump, faced a bomb threat while staying at a hotel in suburban Chicago, leading to an evacuation of 400 people. Law enforcement searched the hotel and found no explosive device, and the lawmakers declared themselves safe and undeterred. The redistricting maps, criticized as deeply divisive and discriminatory by Democrats such as State Representative Vince Perez, are seen as attempts to solidify Republican power by reducing representation for minority groups. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's call to 'hunt down' Democrats who fled to deny quorum has been linked to escalating threats, including the bomb scare, with Democrats blaming the hostile rhetoric for endangering their safety. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and local law enforcement have condemned the threats and assured protection for the lawmakers. The standoff highlights growing political tensions in Texas, with Democrats warning of long-term harm to future generations if the proposed maps are enacted.