Texas State Lawmakers Evacuated From Illinois Hotel After Bomb Threat

On Wednesday (August 6), Texas state lawmakers were evacuated from their hotel in suburban Chicago due to a bomb threat. The Democratic legislators, who had fled Texas to block a Republican redistricting effort, were staying at the hotel when the threat was reported around 7:15 a.m. The evacuation involved approximately 400 people, but no device was found after a thorough search by the Kane County Sheriff's Office bomb squad.

The Texas representatives, including Reps. Gene Wu, Ramón Romero, and Barbara Gervin Hawkins, issued a statement saying they were "safe, secure, and undeterred." They expressed gratitude to Governor JB Pritzker and law enforcement for their swift response. Governor Pritzker confirmed on social media that threats of violence would be investigated and those responsible held accountable. He authorized the Illinois State Police to ensure public safety.

The lawmakers had planned to attend an event with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, which was canceled due to the threat. The Democrats' walkout began earlier this week, with members leaving Texas for Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts to stall the redistricting effort ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has escalated efforts to end the holdout, including filing an emergency petition to the Texas Supreme Court to remove the Democratic House leader from office.