Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has taken a firm stance against federal intervention in the ongoing Texas redistricting battle.
According to Fox News, Pritzker stated Wednesday that the FBI would be "unwelcome" to pursue Texas Democratic lawmakers who fled to Illinois to prevent a redistricting vote. The governor maintained that since no federal laws were broken, the FBI lacks jurisdiction in this matter.
The confrontation stems from more than 50 Texas Democratic lawmakers who left their state earlier this month to block a Republican-backed redistricting plan. Their absence prevents the Texas House from reaching the 100-member quorum needed to advance legislation that could add five Republican-leaning House seats before the 2026 midterms.
Pritzker characterized Senator John Cornyn's request for FBI intervention as political theater, pointing out that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging Cornyn's Senate seat. "They're grandstanding. There's literally no federal law applicable to this situation. None," Pritzker told podcaster Jessica Yellin in an interview.
The Illinois governor further emphasized that local law enforcement and state troopers would protect anyone in Illinois, including the Texas lawmakers. He dismissed the possibility of arrest, stating that without federal law violations, outside agencies are "basically unwelcome" in his state.
This stance directly contradicts President Donald Trump's suggestion that the FBI "may have to" intervene in the situation. Trump has been encouraging Republican states to pursue mid-cycle redistricting to improve GOP chances of maintaining House control after the 2026 midterms.
Pritzker has joined forces with California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Governor Kathy Hochul in offering sanctuary to the Texas Democrats. All three have framed their support as a defense of democratic principles against partisan gerrymandering.
"We follow the law," Pritzker said, while accusing Trump and Texas officials of thwarting the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. The Democratic governors have collectively vowed to "fight fire with fire" in response to the Republican redistricting strategy.
Their solidarity stands in stark contrast to Texas Republicans' approach, which includes issuing civil arrest warrants and imposing $500 daily fines on the absent Democratic lawmakers. Governor Greg Abbott specifically convened a special legislative session to advance the redistricting plan that sparked the Democrats' exodus.
President Trump has defended the Texas redistricting effort by arguing that Democratic-led states have already engaged in similar practices. During a CNBC interview, he specifically targeted Illinois, California, and Massachusetts for what he described as partisan gerrymandering benefiting Democrats.
"In Illinois, where you have probably the dumbest of all governors... It's terrible what they're doing," Trump said, adding a personal attack on Pritzker as "the black sheep of the family." The president claimed Republicans were simply seeking balance through the Texas redistricting effort.
Trump further asserted that Republican-led Texas deserves five additional congressional seats, citing his electoral performance in the state. "I got the highest vote in the history of Texas, as you probably know. And, we are entitled to five more seats," the president stated.
The standoff raises significant questions about states' authority in interstate disputes and the federal government's role in state legislative matters. Legal experts are divided on whether federal agencies have grounds to intervene in what has traditionally been a state issue.
Texas has reportedly asked an Illinois court to enforce the arrest warrants for the Democratic lawmakers, potentially setting up a complex legal confrontation between the two states. The outcome could establish important precedents for similar political standoffs in the future.
Constitutional scholars note that while states typically honor other states' arrest warrants, political asylum cases create exceptional circumstances. The Democrats' claim that they're protecting voting rights by preventing a quorum adds another layer of complexity to the already unprecedented situation.
