Texas redistricting feud escalates as Democrats face bomb and FBI threats

August 7, 2025

In Texas, a political conflict has intensified over a Republican redistricting plan as Senator John Cornyn claimed the FBI would assist in locating Democratic state lawmakers who fled to Illinois to prevent a vote. The Democrats' departure is a tactical move to block the Republican proposal that would create five additional Republican-leaning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Tensions escalated further when Democrats evacuated their Illinois hotel following a bomb threat, while former President Trump suggested FBI involvement might be necessary.

Who is affected

Texas state lawmakers, particularly the more than 50 Democratic legislators who fled the state
Texas voters whose congressional districts would be redrawn
Republicans in the Texas legislature and U.S. House of Representatives
Gene Wu and members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus
Hotel staff and guests where the Democrats were staying in Illinois

What action is being taken

Texas Democrats are remaining out of state to prevent a quorum necessary for voting on the redistricting plan
Republican Senator John Cornyn is requesting FBI assistance to locate the absent Democratic lawmakers
Local and state law enforcement in Illinois are providing security for the Texas Democrats following a bomb threat
Texas Democrats are holding press conferences to speak out against the redistricting effort
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Republicans are seeking to compel the Democrats to return to the state

Why it matters

The Republican redistricting proposal would create five more Republican-leaning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives where the party holds a slim majority
The situation represents a significant partisan conflict over electoral boundaries that could affect representation and voting power
The Democrats' exodus prevents the required two-thirds quorum of the 150-member Texas legislative body needed to proceed with the vote
The escalation to potential FBI involvement and security threats demonstrates the high stakes of the redistricting battle
The dispute highlights tensions between state legislative processes and federal involvement in state matters

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC