Bomb Threat At Illinois Hotel Forces Texas House Democrats To Evacuate

Texas House Democrats who fled to Illinois this week to block the state’s congressional district redraw vote had to evacuate a hotel after a bomb threat, reports say.

“The St. Charles Police Department in Illinois said officers responded to a report of a bomb threat at about 7:15 a.m. CDT Wednesday at a hotel where the Democrats were staying,” The Hill reports.

“This morning, a threat was made against the safety of the members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. We are safe, we are secure, and we are undeterred. We are grateful for Governor Pritzker, local, and state law enforcement for their quick action to ensure our safety,” caucus leadership said in a statement, according to ABC News.

After a “thorough” search, police and fire department officials did not find any device.

“I am aware of reports that threats were made against Texas elected officials in our state. Threats of violence will be investigated and those responsible will be held accountable. I have instructed @ILStatePolice to ensure we maintain public safety,” Gov. JB Pritzker said.

I am aware of reports that threats were made against Texas elected officials in our state.

Threats of violence will be investigated and those responsible will be held accountable.

I have instructed @ILStatePolice to ensure we maintain public safety.

— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) August 6, 2025

The Hill has more:

The state police told The Hill that it has been in touch with local law enforcement and is coordinating with its local partners.

The threat comes as Texas remains in a standoff over the Republican-led plan to redraw the state’s congressional district lines to add up to five more GOP-held seats in the 2026 midterms. State House Democrats left Texas on Sunday to go to a few other states, including Illinois, to deny the body a quorum and prevent it from being able to conduct business.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has ordered the members’ arrest, arguing they have violated their oath of office by refusing to attend the special legislative session he called to address the redistricting plan. President Trump suggested the FBI may get involved to help Texas return the state legislators, and Sen. John Cornyn (R) sent FBI Director Kash Patel a letter requesting that the agency does so.

State Rep. Ann Johnson (D), a member of the group who traveled to Illinois, said the threat is what happens as a result of “reckless rhetoric,” pointing to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s (R) vow to “hunt down” those who left.

“St. Charles Police and Fire departments and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad conducted a thorough search and no device was found. In response to the threat, 400 people were immediately evacuated and the area was secured as bomb squad units conducted their investigation,” the police department said in a statement, ABC News noted.

Previously, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed to vacate House seats held by Democrats who fled the state if they do not return to perform legislative duties by Friday.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Issues Warning To Democrat Lawmakers Who Fled State

“Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced that the continued refusal to perform legislative duties by Texas House Democrats who broke quorum constitutes abandonment of office and that he will pursue a court ruling ensuring that their seats are declared vacant,” a release from Paxton’s office read.

“Speaker of the Texas House Dustin Burrows has given members until Friday, August 8, to return to Texas and present themselves before the House. Any lawmaker who has not been arrested and returned or fails to appear by the Speaker’s deadline will be subject to aggressive legal action by Attorney General Paxton,” it continued.

“Democrats have abandoned their offices by fleeing Texas, and a failure to respond to a call of the House constitutes a dereliction of their duty as elected officials,” Paxton said.

“Starting Friday, any rogue lawmakers refusing to return to the House will be held accountable for vacating their office. The people of Texas elected lawmakers, not jet-setting runaways looking for headlines. If you don’t show up to work, you get fired,” he added.

🚨BREAKING: I will seek judicial orders declaring that runaway Democrats who fail to appear by the Speaker’s deadline have vacated their office.

The people of Texas elected lawmakers, not jet-setting runaways looking for headlines. If you don’t show up to work, you get fired. pic.twitter.com/yyPWavY38P

— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 5, 2025

ABC News noted:

A spokesperson for Gov. Abbott said that Abbott condemns violence or threats of violence "without reservation" but pushed back against Democrats' claims that his calls for them to return to Texas have been inflammatory.

"First and foremost, violence -- or even the threat of it -- is unacceptable and the Governor condemns it without reservation. But to suggest that calling on Democrats to return to Texas and do their jobs is somehow 'inflammatory' is absurd," Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for Abbott, told ABC News.

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CBS Texas provided additional coverage: