They have also been forced to relocate following bomb threats at their original hotel in St. Charles. On Monday, they remained defiant, refusing to go back, at least, not yet.
Dozens of Texas lawmakers started their second week in Illinois with a pair of high-profile meetings: one in Edison Park with Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin and another in Pilsen with members of the Illinois Latino Legislative Caucus. Their objective was clear as they continue to block efforts to approve a new congressional map in their state. The proposed map would greatly increase the Republican Party's chances of keeping control of the House during next year's midterm elections.
"This isn't a Texas issue. This is an American issue, an issue to whether or not there will be due process and fairness in our politics," Durbin said.
Back in Austin on Monday, the Texas House of Representatives was technically scheduled to meet for a second reading of the redistricting bill. But without the necessary quorum this could not happen. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is now threatening to redraw the map yet again to further hurt Democrats.
"I'm authorized to call a special session every 30 days. It lasts 30 days, and as soon as this one is over, I'm gonna call another one, then another one, then another one, then another one. If they show back up in the state of Texas, they will be arrested and taken to the Capitol," Abbott said on Fox News Monday.
Those present in Illinois remain defiant, equating what is going on there with President Donald Trump's decision to federalize the District of Columbia's police department and send in the National Guard.
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"This is about the rise of authoritarianism in our country. This is about saying that, 'We don't care what your local city wants. We don't care what your state wants,'" said Democratic Texas state Rep. Gene Wu.
In Pilsen on Monday, Illinois Democratic Congressman Chuy Garcia stood in solidarity with the Texas Democrats, accusing Abbott of gerrymandering in an effort to eliminate Latino representation nationwide.
"Voter rights and protected classes have never been about special treatment or privilege. They have been about getting to power and having a seat at the table," Garcia said.
The Texas Democrats said they are committed to remaining out of state until their legislature's special session ends on Aug. 19.