Texas House Democrats began returning to their state on Monday after spending two weeks in the Chicago area and other parts of the country to prevent the Republican majority in their legislature from passing a new gerrymandered congressional map aimed at eliminating five Democratic seats.

Texas Democrats who spent two weeks in Illinois to block GOP redistricting plans are back home — but under police surveillance. Lawmakers were forced to sign pledges to attend Wednesday’s session, each assigned a state trooper to monitor them.

Texas Democrats who fled to Illinois to block a GOP-led congressional redistricting plan said they would return after lawmakers adjourn Friday and California Democrats introduce their retaliatory