Texas state lawmakers in Illinois evacuated from their hotel after threat

ST. CHARLES, Ill. (WAND) - Democratic state legislators from Texas were evacuated from a suburban Chicago hotel Wednesday morning following a bomb threat.

NBC News reports a news conference that was set to feature Sen. Dick Durbin was cancelled as a result.

Illinois Democrats have rallied behind Texas Democrats, who traveled to Illinois to block the passage of a new Republican-drawn congressional map.

Since the members were absent, the Texas state House does not have a quorum to move forward.

The hotel was evacuated around 7:15 a.m.

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

About 400 people in all were evacuated, according to the St. Charles Police Department. The Kane County bomb squad was brought in to search the property. No bomb was found.

The Democratic legislators left Texas for Chicago, Boston and Albany, New York, on Sunday, after the Texas state legislature began a special session to draw a new congressional map giving Republicans a path to a 5-seat gain in the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans are protecting a narrow 3-seat majority in the chamber ahead of the midterms, NBC News reports.