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.

Gov. JB Pritzker in Springfield on Aug. 6 called the Texas House Democrats who fled the state for Illinois to thwart a Republican quorum to vote on a controversial congressional redistricting plan "heroes (who) are standing up for democracy."

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.