Former president Barack Obama spoke to the Texas Democrats via video on Thursday, praising them for fighting against the redistricting plan. He told them they should return to Texas “feeling invigorated” and with the knowledge that they helped lead what will be a long fight. Former attorney general Eric Holder also joined the call.

“We can’t let a systematic assault on democracy just happen and stand by and so because of your actions, because of your courage, what you’ve seen is California responding, other states looking at what they can do to offset this mid-decade gerrymandering,” he said, according to ABC News.