A Texas state Democrat who fled the Lone Star State as Republicans look to implement new congressional maps defended the decision during a press conference in Massachusetts Tuesday afternoon.

State Democratic Sen. Carol Alvarado said the redistricting effort in Texas was not just an issue in the Lone Star State, but a problem for the entire United States during a press conference with Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and other Democratic members of the Texas legislature.

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“You’ve all heard the game Texas Hold ‘Em, well, we are literally holding the line on democracy, not just for Texas, but for our nation,” said Alvarado.

Healey, among the Democratic governors hosting the Texas Democrats, slammed the Texas GOP over “outrageous” redistricting efforts. Eight Texas state senators and two House members attended the press conference with Healey.

Many Texas Democrats remain out of the state, despite Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directing the arrests of those who fled the state to delay or halt the GOP redistricting effort.

“They’re only leaving in terms of physical presence, they’re not leaving because they are fighting for them just as hard right here from Boston today as they are in states around this country,” Healey said during the press conference. 

The Democratic governor went on to “applaud” the “courage” of the members who left the state, as she called the redistricting effort during a special session in Texas a “partisan, craven, political power grab.” 

“Honestly, this is what everybody hates about politics,” she added.

Healey was joined by Massachusetts Secretary William Galvin, eight Texas state senators, and two Texas state representatives.

“These folks did not flee Texas, they came here to get the message out to the rest of us across this country, that you do what Trump has done in Texas and is attempting to conclude in Texas, you’re stealing the rights of Massachusetts voters and voters throughout this country,” Galvin said.  

This press conference comes just hours after Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker held a similar press conference in his home state with a handful of Texas Democrats and Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin. 

The press conferences come on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act to fight against the attempted redistricting. The special session was also used to address the fatal floods in the state last month.

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The state legislature began redrawing the state’s congressional districts last week, as part of an effort backed by the Trump administration. The redistricting effort would create 30 Republican congressional seats, compared to just eight Democratic districts, a five-seat boost for the GOP from its current 25-13 advantage.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Attorney General Ken Paxton have joined Abbott in condemning Democrats for leaving the state amid the GOP redistricting attempt.