Texas Democratic lawmakers who left for Illinois to block a redistricting effort in their state faced threats of arrest and criminal charges if they did not return home.
But as their time away continued, the threats became more serious.
A group of legislators staying at a hotel in St. Charles, a suburb of Chicago, endured two bomb threats on separate days. The situation escalated to the point that the lawmakers quietly changed hotels and agreed internally to keep the details private.
Even more worrying were the experiences of their families back in Texas.
Some legislators reported that their homes were repeatedly receiving unwanted pizza deliveries. Law enforcement now considers this a form of intimidation, after a judge’s son was killed by someone posing as a delivery driver.
In another incident, state Rep. Diego Bernal said a man wearing a backpack visited his family’s home in San Antonio. Bernal told NBC News that the man claimed to be a water company worker and asked for information about Bernal’s whereabouts.
The encounter was recorded on the family’s security camera. Bernal said he wasn’t sure if the individual intended to cause harm, but he confirmed that the man misrepresented himself since he lacked the standard identification of a water department employee.
“Almost everybody has a story like that now. You’ve got him, you’ve got the pizza folks, you’ve got the people online saying to ‘hunt us down,’” Bernal said. “The atmosphere online has been really toxic. When we’re in session, even with strong disagreements, there is usually respect and decorum. But while facing a bomb threat or threats to hunt us down, there has been none of that.”
The threats have weighed heavily on the lawmakers, who have been away from home for nearly two weeks as they plan their return to Texas.
When asked about his fears, state Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said one word: “Minnesota.” He was referring to a Minnesota lawmaker who was shot and killed earlier this year along with her husband when a suspect appeared at their home.
“I have left directions to my family: Do not open the door for anyone. We are deadly afraid there will be another Minnesota incident,” Wu said. “We get threats all the time. When Republicans call us communists, traitors, and other things, that provokes a real fear. We don’t take this lightly.”
Texas state Rep. Ramon Romero Jr., head of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus, described the threats and intimidation tactics from Republicans as a troubling “sign of the times.”
He pointed to Roger Stone, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, posting a map showing the lawmakers’ location and GOP state Rep. Mitch Little naming the hotel in a TV interview, saying, “Whoever wants to go and get them, we fully support that effort.”
“You have people that want to be famous, and because Roger Stone said, ‘This is where they are,’ the next day there’s a bomb threat at that location,” Romero said. “It’s a sign of the times. This is what happens when people make incendiary comments like ‘Go get ’em.’”
In response, Little told NBC News, “That’s ridiculous. I saw their location on social media like everyone else. [The Department of Public Safety] was charged with bringing them back, and that’s exactly who I was talking about.”
Stone also stated via text that a news organization was the first to reveal the hotel where the lawmakers were staying.
In addition to security concerns, lawmakers’ families experienced other disruptions. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows said that the Department of Public Safety had deployed special agents across the state, prepared to take lawmakers into custody at any moment.
“They are set up outside members’ homes, conducting surveillance, knocking on doors, calling their phones multiple times a day. So far, no one’s home. But the search continues, and it will not stop,” Burrows said.
Burrows condemned the threats, noting that he himself received a voicemail threatening his family.
“Threats of violence and intimidation against elected officials have no place in our politics, and it is unfortunate that members on both sides have been harassed,” he said. “These threats will never be tolerated, and working with law enforcement, we will ensure anyone targeting a Texas elected official or their family faces the full force of the law.”
Gov. Greg Abbott’s office also denounced the threats and rejected claims from Democrats that Republicans were encouraging them.
“First and foremost, violence — or even the threat of it — is unacceptable and the Governor condemns it without reservation,” Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said. “But to suggest that calling on Democrats to return to Texas and do their jobs somehow inflames threats is absurd.”
On Friday, Burrows closed the first special legislative session, and Abbott called a new session hours later to consider, among other things, a new congressional map that could give Republicans up to five more seats.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded on Thursday by urging lawmakers in his state to hold a special election to pursue their own mid-decade redistricting effort.
A person familiar with the plans said Texas Democrats intend to return to their state “as soon as Monday,” setting two conditions: first, that the special session in Texas ends, and second, that California Democrats release their redistricting proposal.
Wu said Friday, “One of the two conditions has been met when the governor caved. We expect the other condition to be met next week.”
