Seventeen Democratic attorneys general filed a motion Monday to challenge a Friday decision by a federal judge that ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional.

The motion, led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, asks the judge to grant a stay on his ruling until it is appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans.

It also asks the judge, Reed O’Connor in the Northern District of Texas, for clarification on the ruling that said the law must be struck down because the fine on the uninsured, known as the "individual mandate," will be zeroed out in 2019. The filing asks O'Connor to make it clear that the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is still the law of the land and should continue to be enforced by states and the federal government.

“The District Court’s ruling poses a dangerous threat to the healthcare of millions of Americans," Becerra said in a statement. "We’re asking the court to make clear that the ACA is still the law and ensure that all Americans can continue to access affordable healthcare under it."

O'Connor's ruling strikes down the entirety of Obamacare, including rules that insurers must cover people with pre-existing conditions, the extension of the Medicaid program to the poor, and coverage for maternity care, mental health, and substance abuse disorders.

[Opinion: Obamacare shrugged]