Updated at 8:15 p.m. with new information throughout.

FORT WORTH — In a rousing speech to thousands of delegates at the Texas Democratic Party Convention, Rep. Beto O'Rourke called for Democrats to "show up" for Texans that have been under siege from leaders who don't act in their best interests.

His expansive remarks touched on many progressive themes as he urged Democrats to fight for teachers, women, farmers, veterans, transgender residents and others.

"I want to make sure that we're talking everyone, every day in the state of Texas," O'Rourke said. "That everybody is treated with respect and dignity in the state of Texas, in the United States of America, everyone, everywhere, every single day. We show up in every county, in every community within every county ... we show up for everyone."

O'Rourke also lamented that America — under the administration of President Donald Trump — had separated migrant children from their families in the name of border security and called on the nation's leaders to do the right thing.

"We took those children from their mothers and from their fathers in put them in tent cities," O'Rourke said. "We separated them with no idea when or if they would be reunited.... We've stopped family separation. Now we're got to get those kids and those parents together."

O'Rourke, D-El Paso, is the underdog in a tough fight against incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. The Texas statewide electorate is dominated by Republicans, so O'Rourke needs a big turnout from his base and help from Republican voters in order to pull off the upset.

O'Rourke, with his relentless, unique campaign, has thrilled Democrats across the state. They hope he can beat Cruz and deliver the party its first statewide victory since 1994.

O'Rourke did not mention Cruz in his speech.

His appearance at the convention is part of a packed weekend of events in North Texas, including a "beers with Beto" event in Fort Worth and town hall meetings in Flower Mound and Plano.

North Texas is an important part of O'Rourke's strategy to pull enough votes to beat Cruz. And he's described winning in red Tarrant County as a critical component to victory.

"Let's hear it for Tarrant County," O'Rourke said at the convention. "This does not happen without you."

1 / 4U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke speaks during the Texas Democratic Convention on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 2 / 4Beto O'Rourke speaks during the general session at the Texas Democratic Convention Friday, June 22, 2018, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)(Richard W. Rodriguez / AP) 3 / 4U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke, gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez and other candidates wave on stage during the Texas Democratic Convention on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 4 / 4U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke is interviewed by reporters during the Texas Democratic Convention on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer)

A progressive approach

O'Rourke's mantra of showing up for Texas was aimed at numerous progressive issues.

"For the people who are looking for work but cannot find that job that pays a living wage [and] allows them to live with function, dignity and purpose in their lives, we need to show up and fight for them," O'Rourke said.

Education is also his priority.

"We need to show up for those teachers who are going to make sure that those kids have the skills, and that teachers look like those kids that they are teaching in those classrooms, and that they teach to those kids and not the standardized tests," O'Rourke said.

He also said, "We need to make sure we show up for those veterans who literally have borne the battle for this country."

And he said Texas needs to show up for Texas women and the gay, lesbian and transgender community.

"We believe in a women's right to choose and health care that will save her life," he said, adding that shutting down women's clinics has led to a maternal mortality crisis.

O'Rourke said that Texans needed to protect their children by not hurting the environment and curbing gun violence, to perhaps the loudest cheers during his speech.

He said of students working against gun violence: "They will make sure that we do not meet urgency of this moment with just more prayers and more thoughts, but that we make sure that everybody that buys a firearm in this state goes through a universal background check."

O'Rourke told delegates they were right on the issues, but must fight to bring about change.

"When we show up, nothing can stop us," he said.

1 / 7Susie Leinneweber, center and her dog, King Louis, enter the arena during the Texas Democratic Convention on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth.(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 2 / 7Delegates cheer during the Texas Democratic Convention on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 3 / 7Attendees cheer and wave signs during the speech by Texas gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez at the Texas Democratic Convention Friday, June 22, 2018, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)(Richard W. Rodriguez / AP) 4 / 7King Louis the dog wears political buttons with Susie Leinneweber during the Texas Democratic Convention on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 5 / 7Susie Leinneweber, center and her dog, King Louis, enter the arena during the Texas Democratic Convention on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 6 / 7Carmen Duron of Corpus Christi, Texas applauds during the Texas Democratic Convention on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 7 / 7Carmen Duron of Corpus Christi, Texas shows off her custom nail art during the Texas Democratic Convention on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer)

Appealing to the base and beyond

O'Rourke told delegates it was important to appeal to all voters, even in mostly Republican Loving County, which had no delegates in the convention hall.

"When we show up everywhere, that's how we win," he said.

Delegates at the convention are hoping that O'Rourke can not only beat Cruz, but help win victories for Democrats up and down the Texas ballot.

He said the state should not be known for the “intolerance" Republican leaders showed in crafting the so-called bathroom bill that critics said would have discriminated against transgender residents.

"To me, this is what Texas looks like. This is what our democracy looks like," he said. "To me, this is what winning looks like.”

After his speech, O'Rourke said he was proud of his campaign, but there was still room for improvement.

He recognized that he needs to electrify blacks and Hispanics in the same way he's excited white Democrats.

"We're getting much better at connecting with everyone," O'Rourke said. "We can't take people for granted. The only way we win on Nov. 6 is if communities of color are leading this campaign."