The Texas Democrat lawmakers who deserted their home state for Illinois in an effort to cripple their state House’s ability to conduct business were forced to evacuate a Chicago hotel early Wednesday due to a bomb threat, according to Mediaite.

Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott called a special legislative session last week to approve a new congressional map that could give the state GOP five more seats in the 2026 midterm elections, but Texas state House Democrats fled to Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts on Sunday in a last-ditch attempt to prevent a vote.

Promising to “use every available resource” to bring the absent lawmakers back, Abbott on Monday ordered the arrest of any Democrat lawmaker upon their return, and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called on the FBI to “take any appropriate steps” to assist state authorities in finding or arresting them.

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