Texas Democrats rallied outside the Massachusetts State House Wednesday morning as they continued to dodge their legislative duties in an attempt to slow down a Republican attempt to redraw Congressional lines in the Lone Star State.

The gathering was part of an effort by Democrats across the country to show solidarity with Texas state lawmakers who are trying to postpone votes on new U.S. House maps that would add more Republican seats in Texas.

President Donald Trump has called on Texas Republicans to approve the new maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections in order to boost his party’s chances at holding onto their slim majority in the U.S. House.

But the maps have drawn a wave of criticism from Democrats, including Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey.

Healey met with Texas Democrats Tuesday afternoon inside her office and told reporters afterward that the new U.S. House maps are a “partisan, craven political power grab.”

Healey said residents in Massachusetts have “seen the impact in Massachusetts of Donald Trump’s cuts to Medicaid and anti-hunger programs, and the way his tariffs … raised the cost for everyone.”

“What’s happening in Texas matters to the people of Massachusetts, and it matters to people all over this country if we don’t have a fair election system in this country. That impacts, that hurts all Americans,” Healey told reporters at the State House.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his fellow Republicans have threatened to remove Democrats who have left the state from office, fine them each day they are away from Austin, and even have them arrested if they do not return to work.

By leaving Texas, the Democratic lawmakers have effectively prevented Republicans in the state from adopting the U.S. House maps by gauranteeing the 150-member Texas House does not have a quroum to do its business.

The Republican-controlled state House did not reach a necessary quroum to vote on the maps both Monday and Tuesday.

Materials from the Associated Press were used in this report.