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.

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.

After two weeks out of state, Democratic lawmakers returned to Austin, paving the way for Republicans to pass their proposed congressional map.

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.

In response, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to try to remove the Democrats from the state Legislature and said some of them may even be "felons."

A judge in Illinois on Wednesday denied Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request to enforce civil arrest warrants for the absent Texas House Democrats trying to stop a redistricting effort that could net Republicans five seats in the US House.

Redistricting was a large focus at an annual gathering of the state party’s central committee and the Republican County Chair’s Association in Springfield, with a pre-taped message from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that dubbed his push “fair” and “necessary” setting the tone for the day.