A group of Texas House Democrats, who fled to Illinois to block a Republican-led redistricting bill, was evacuated from their hotel in St. Charles, west of Chicago, early Wednesday morning due to a bomb threat, authorities and lawmakers confirmed.
No device was found, and all individuals were reported safe.
The St. Charles Police Department responded to the threat at the Q Center hotel and convention complex around 7:15 a.m. CDT.
“In response to the threat, 400 people were immediately evacuated and the area was secured as bomb squad units conducted their investigation,” police said in a statement. “Following clearance from authorities, all guests and staff have safely returned to the premises.”
Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu, Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chair Rep. Ramón Romero, and Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chair Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins issued a joint statement: “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.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, aware of the threat, directed state police to investigate.
“Threats of violence will be investigated and those responsible will be held accountable,” he wrote on X.
The evacuation followed an announcement over the hotel’s intercom about the threat, according to Texas Rep. Ron Reynolds.
State Rep. Ann Johnson said, “A bomb threat forced us to evacuate our hotel. Thankfully, no one was harmed.”
She criticized inflammatory rhetoric from Texas Republican leaders, stating, “When the Attorney General tells people to ‘hunt us down,’ it’s not just politics — it’s a threat to our safety. Continuing to go further and further down the path of incitement and intimidation is dangerous … We won’t be intimidated. Texas Democrats are united, resolute, and more committed than ever to standing up for the people we represent.”
Rep. John Bucy echoed her concerns: “We were promptly evacuated, and thankfully, everyone is safe. Unfortunately, this is what happens when Republican leaders, like our corrupt Attorney General, call on their supporters to ‘hunt us down.’ We’ve been threatened by the governor, the attorney general, and our colleagues in the House. This harmful discourse emboldens bad actors and encourages violence. It’s unacceptable and needs to end.”
More than 50 Texas House Democrats left for Illinois on Sunday to prevent a quorum needed for a vote on a redistricting bill that could add up to five Republican seats to Texas’ 38 congressional districts, currently split between 23 Republicans and 15 Democrats.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has sued for the removal of Rep. Wu, labeling him the “ringleader” of the quorum break. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has threatened to declare the Democrats’ seats vacant if they do not return by Friday.
Abbott also called for civil arrests, though the Texas Department of Public Safety lacks out-of-state jurisdiction, leading U.S. Sen. John Cornyn to request FBI intervention.
The investigation into the bomb threat remains ongoing, with St. Charles police ensuring the hotel is secure for guests.