Texas Rep. Pete Sessions, Long Dominant, Faces One of Nation's Toughest House Races [View all]

[question everything]

DALLAS—One of the Democrats’ best chances to knock off a Republican congressional heavyweight lies in a district where two years ago they didn’t bother to field a candidate.

Rep. Pete Sessions, chairman of the House Rules Committee, has for more than a decade easily beaten every opponent in his Texas district, which includes parts of Dallas and surrounding suburbs. But changing demographics that reflect the broader diversification of the Lone Star State, along with a jolt of anti-Trump sentiment, have made this one of the most competitive House races in the nation, according to political analysts.

Democratic hopeful Colin Allred, 35 years old, grew up in Dallas, was a standout linebacker at Baylor University in Waco, and then played for the Tennessee Titans. Mr. Allred said in an interview that his athletic background has helped him connect with voters in football-crazed Texas, but his campaign is staked on positioning himself as a progressive alternative to the conservative, 11-term Congressman.

Political analysts including the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have rated the race a tossup, while FiveThirtyEight says it leans toward Mr. Sessions. A New York Times/Siena College poll last week had Mr. Sessions up by one point, within the margin of error.

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The district, which encompasses communities from moneyed Dallas enclaves to parts of Richardson, a suburb with a sizable Asian population, is changing... Mitt Romney and John McCain both crushed Mr. Obama by double digits here, but in 2016 Hillary Clinton edged out Donald Trump by just under two points in a surprise shift that spurred Democrats’ enthusiasm this year.

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https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-rep-pete-sessions-long-dominant-faces-one-of-nations-toughest-house-races-1538386211 (paid subscription)