FORT WORTH — Texas Democrats wrapped up their state convention Saturday, re-electing their state chairman and laying out a slightly tweaked party platform, while keeping the separation of immigrant families at the border front and center.

Carrying posters that read "Family rights are human rights," "Reunite the families" and "You should really care," referring to a message on first lady Melania Trump's jacket, they held a rally against the Trump administration's zero-tolerance policy that has led to the separations.

"I can't imagine being torn from my mother's arms," said Houston Rep. Ana Hernandez, who became an unauthorized immigrant in the country as a child when her family overstayed their visas. "That's not the America that we know. That is not what we stand for."

Hernandez, who became a citizen at 18 and is the first former unauthorized immigrant member of the Texas House, urged fellow Democrats to speak up for immigrant families in their communities.

"Please go back, continue to stand up and speak up for these families, because families come first," she said.

1 / 7Molly Chambers, left, Ashly Ibarra, center, and Cathy Clark chant and hold signs during a Families First Rally at the Texas Democratic Convention on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 2 / 7Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez speaks during a Families First Rally at the Texas Democratic Convention on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 3 / 7From left, Marcus Radovich, Athena Radovich and Keith Norman sit on the floor as Cassandra Radovich and Keith Norman hold a sign during a Families First Rally at the Texas Democratic Convention on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 4 / 7Irene Andrews shouts and holds a sign during a Families First Rally at the Texas Democratic Convention on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 5 / 7Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez speaks during a Families First Rally at the Texas Democratic Convention on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 6 / 7Irene Andrews holds a sign during a Families First Rally at the Texas Democratic Convention on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 7 / 7Tammy Nelms listens to a speaker during a Families First Rally at the Texas Democratic Convention on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer)

The crowd chanted "Families belong together" and "No baby jails!" as speakers denounced the Trump administration for "using children as a political football" and called the policy "morally bankrupt."

They also urged the attendees to make their voices heard in November, echoing party leaders who hope they can turn the passion from the convention into results at the ballot box.

"We are here to send a message to the Republicans loud and clear that your days in office are numbered," U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth said during his address to the convention. "We need to leave here and we need to work like we mean it. We need to work like we deserve it. We need to work like we know that this year will be different."

Congressman Marc Veasey speaks during the Texas Democratic Convention on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer)

Megan McDonough, 18, of Conroe said she came away with knowledge she hopes to use as a new voter in November.

"I learned more just by spending the weekend here, going to caucuses and listening to speakers than I have in the month that I've been involved with my county party," she said.

Christine Strukel of Corpus Christi said she spent her 47th birthday rallying for immigrants at the convention and learning more about candidates with whom she was not familiar, such as Kim Olson, who is running for agriculture commissioner and was a crowd favorite during her speech Friday.

"I was sending pictures from the march and saying, I'll never forget my 47th birthday," Strukel said. "It was exciting meeting individuals for all these offices we sometimes take for granted."

Party chairman re-elected

1 / 2Gilberto Hinojosa gets a hug from a supporter after speaking during a Families First Rally at the Texas Democratic Convention on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 2 / 2Gilberto Hinojosa speaks during a Families First Rally at the Texas Democratic Convention on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer)

Gilberto Hinojosa, the first Hispanic elected as chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, also spoke at the rally Saturday before being re-elected.

Unlike their counterparts in the Republican Party during their convention last weekend, Democrats did not have any major arguments over electing a leader.

Hinojosa defeated soft challenges from former Balch Springs Mayor Cedric Davis and San Antonio activist Rachel Barrios-Van Os. The former Cameron County judge first became party chairman in 2012.

In his acceptance speech, Hinojosa talked about sacrificing time away from his family to be an effective party chairman.

"This is what we have to do to turn things around in this state, to make this state a better place," he said. "We get it. We understand. It’s all about winning elections."

Democrats also elected Carla Brailey of Harris County as vice chairwoman, Chris Hollins of Harris County as vice chairman of finance, Tiamjon Lee Forbes of Travis County as secretary and 19-year-old Mike Floyd of Brazoria County as treasurer.

Changes to party platform

There also wasn't much drama over adopting a party platform, with the most notable changes based on the issues of the day: gun violence, immigration and sexual misconduct revealed by the #MeToo movement.

The party called for "sensible gun laws" to curtail access to hard-capacity magazines or assault-style weapons. On immigration, it formally denounced Trump's zero-tolerance policy and noted that leaders at the federal level hurt the economy and public safety by not passing comprehensive immigration reform.

The Democrats also included platform "planks" that demand the judicial and criminal justice systems "respect the real pain that's been inflicted as a result of sexual assault and sexual harrassment," said Austin Rep. Celia Israel, the platform committee chairwoman.

The platform also placed a focus on the "implicit biases" in the criminal justice system that have led minorities to be more harshly punished than whites for the same crimes.

Staff writer Forrest Milburn contributed to this report.

CORRECTION, 10:23 p.m., June 23, 2018: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Hinojosa was county judge in Hidalgo County. He was county judge in Cameron County.