Texas House Democrats returned to their state 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.

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.

No matter what California does, Texas will still lose two Black congressional members. That's still unacceptable, said state Rep. Aicha Davis, D-DeSoto.

Collier is a seven-term Democratic lawmaker and former chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus who also represents a majority-minority district. Democrats have charged that the redrawn congressional maps would tear up those districts, stripping those voters of their voices.

Some Texas House Democrats confirmed they were leaving after the first special session in the Lone Star state ended Friday, and as California's own redistricting maps were expected Monday, meeting both the conditions laid out for their return.

Gov. JB Pritzker attempted to tamp down the federal law enforcement involvement, describing it as “a lot of grandstanding.”

Texas Democrats staying in Illinois were evacuated from their hotel on Wednesday morning over a potential bomb threat, authorities said.

The attorney general is calling on the “full faith and credit” clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says states should typically honor each other’s judicial proceedings.

John Bucy’s older daughter “seemed a little frustrated” with him this week when he wasn’t home to take her to school for her first day of kindergarten. The Texas House lawmaker from Austin hopes one day she’ll understand.