In a stunning act of defiance, Illinois Democrat Governor J.B. Pritzker has vowed to block President Donald Trump’s FBI from arresting Texas Democrats who fled their state to sabotage a GOP plan that could deliver five new Republican House seats in the 2026 midterms.
Speaking on News Not Noise, Pritzker declared Illinois a “safe haven” for the runaway lawmakers — even if it means defying federal law.
“Our state troopers protect everybody in Illinois,” Pritzker boasted. “Whether it’s federal agents or Texas law enforcement, if you haven’t broken federal law, you’re unwelcome here — and Texas legislators cannot be arrested in Illinois.”
The dispute erupted after Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) called on FBI Director Kash Patel to return the absent Democrats to Texas. President Trump backed the plan, telling CNBC’s Squawk Box that Republicans have a right to fair representation.
“In Texas, we can pick up five seats. I won Texas with the highest vote total in its history — and we’re entitled to those seats,” Trump said.
But Pritzker refused, branding any federal action “illegal” and personally attacking Trump as “a convicted felon.” He also accused Texas Republicans of “thwarting the Constitution” by tightening election laws.
The Stakes:
- Republicans say Democrats are dodging accountability and silencing voters.
- Democrats in blue states are openly shielding political allies from the Trump administration.
- The outcome could shape control of Congress in 2026.
Bottom Line: This isn’t just a fight over redistricting in Texas — it’s a showdown over whether states can defy federal law to protect their own party.