The Democratic lawmakers have been in Illinois since Aug. 3 to avoid a vote on the remap during a special legislative session called by Texas GOP.

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.

The departure marked the end of a nationally-watched standoff between the lawmakers and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who pushed the remap plan at President Donald Trump’s urging in a bid to add five more Republican seats in the U.

A bid to establish a ballot initiative in 2026 to reform the redistricting process for Illinois state legislative map-making has kicked off, led by former U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley and ex-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Gov. JB Pritzker in Springfield on Aug. 6 called the Texas House Democrats who fled the state for Illinois to thwart a Republican quorum to vote on a controversial congressional redistricting plan "heroes (who) are standing up for democracy."

Judge Scott Larson ruled that the Texas speaker and attorney general had “failed to present a legal basis for the court” to take up the issue.

Cindy Sanchez, 47, of Fort Worth, Texas, was arrested and charged with two counts of kidnapping two counts of child abduction and two counts of unlawful restraint, all felonies. She was taken to Kane County Jail where she is being held until her pre-trial hearing.

Texas state Rep. James Talarico received almost a familiar welcome as he delivered a rare politician-led sermon to the historic Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side.