Texas House Democrats Protest Redistricting in Illinois Amid Bomb Threat

Dozens of Texas House Democrats have fled to Illinois and other states to block a Republican-backed mid-decade redistricting plan that would increase GOP seats in Texas, which they argue amounts to racial gerrymandering favoring white voters over Hispanic voters. The Democrats' absence prevents the Texas House from reaching a quorum, stalling the redistricting process aimed at flipping five congressional districts to the GOP. While in Illinois, these lawmakers faced a bomb threat at a hotel, prompting evacuation and a police investigation, though no explosives were found. Texas Republican leaders, including Attorney General Ken Paxton and Senator John Cornyn, have condemned the Democrats' actions and called for their arrest, with Cornyn requesting FBI assistance to locate those who fled. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has vowed to protect the Texas Democrats and criticized Texas Republicans' attempts to intimidate them. Despite these threats and political pressure, Texas Democrats remain resolute in their opposition to the redistricting plan, emphasizing their commitment to defending their communities and democratic principles.