Runaway Texas Dems Evacuate Hotel Over Bomb Scare, Blame GOP’s ‘Reckless Rhetoric’

Texas Democrats who fled the state to block a vote on a new congressional map evacuated their hotel in Illinois due to a bomb threat Wednesday morning.

Police arrived at the hotel in St. Charles, Illinois — which is just west of Chicago — around 7:15 a.m. and “conducted a thorough search.” No explosive devices were found, and the hotel guests were given the all-clear to return to their rooms, CBS News reported.

“In response to the threat, 400 people were immediately evacuated and the area was secured as bomb squad units conducted their investigation,” the St. Charles Police Department said. “Following clearance from authorities, all guests and staff have safely returned to the premises.”

Democratic Texas state Rep. Ann Johnson pinned blame on “reckless rhetoric” from Republicans, saying, “When the Attorney General tells people to ‘hunt us down,’ it’s not just politics — it’s a threat to our safety,” Fox 26 Houston reported.

Texas Republicans, led by Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, have threatened to arrest the group of Democrats or remove them from office if they don’t return to vote on the GOP’s redistricting plan. If approved, the new congressional map could flip five Democratic seats to likely Republican pickups in the 2026 midterm elections.

President Donald Trump is a major proponent of the redistricting plan, saying Republicans are “entitled” to five more seats and suggesting on Tuesday that the FBI “may have to” get involved and bring the Democrats back to Texas. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel on Tuesday, asking the bureau to take “any appropriate steps” to help law enforcement arrest the runaway Democrats.

On Tuesday, Paxton said that he would “seek judicial orders declaring that runaway Democrats who fail to appear by the Speaker’s deadline have vacated their office.” The deadline for the AWOL Democrats to return to the state legislature is Friday.

State Rep. Johnson argued that Texas Republicans “continuing to go further and further down the path of incitement and intimidation is dangerous.”

“And this is the perfect example. We won’t be intimidated,” Johnson added. “Texas Democrats are united, resolute, and more committed than ever to standing up for the people we represent. This moment demands courage — and we’re ready to meet it.”

Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, who welcomed Texas Democrats to his state earlier this week, wrote on X Wednesday morning, “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 [Illinois State Police] to ensure we maintain public safety.”

Pritzker has been slammed for jumping into the Texas redistricting fight and criticizing Republicans after he oversaw a redistricting in Illinois in 2021 that included some of the most significant gerrymandering in the country.