a matter of life or death. >> reporter: texas state representative ron reynolds was 1 of the over 50 democrats bringing national attention to the battle in the lone star state. representative reynolds says the bills passed in texas only puts more pressure on the senate to act. the battle for elections spreading across the country, over 400 similar bills have been proposed in several states prompting thousands to gather for the march for voting rights. >> the bill is passed. >> reporter: earlier this week congress passing the john lewis voting rights advancement act. latosha brown, co-founder of black voters matter leading the make good trouble rally and says federal intervention is needed to protect minority voters. >> we're going to need both of those pieces of legislation to ensure that voters in this nation have access to their democratic right to vote. >> reporter: the john lewis voting rights act now heads to the senate where it faces hurdles. republicans have blocked it before...