Who better to challenge longtime GOP congressman Pete Sessions than a former  Republican? At least that's the rationale of Eric Roberson, a Dallas plaintiff's and briefing attorney who lives in Plano, where he used to be a member of the Collin County Republican Men's Club and was a state convention delegate.  "I was Mr. Republican," he said -- even built an elephant float in his garage for an area parade.  Two years ago, he switched parties and is running as a middle-of-the road Democrat who hopes to reach out to both sides of the aisle.

How does he plan to beat the incumbent in what has been a strong GOP district? By denouncing Sessions as a "party-line" conservative who lacks independent thought during a time that high partisanship is out of vogue, and capitalizing on what he calls the failed Republican brand and a good year for Democrats.  

Two years ago, Democrats had a quality candidate in Will Pryor, but he still lost to Sessions by 14 points. Pryor had real trouble generating any media coverage.  Roberson can expect to have similar problems getting any news coverage.  However, as he notes, "This is a totally different cycle."  Plus, the district has been experiencing a demographic shift with an increase in minority population, and Dallas County has turned blue.

Most people think of the 32nd congressional district as being a North Dallas GOP district because it rambles through Preston Hollow, far North Dallas, the Park Cities, Walnut Hill, Addison and Richardson.  But much of the area near Walnut Hill and in Richardson have experienced demographic shifts, and the district also swings around through Irving, Grand Prairie, Cockrell Hill and North Oak Cliff. "Obama will do better than most people think in the distict," Roberson said during an interview at the Texas Democratic Convention.

Roberson, 43, was raised in Richardson and graduated from Baylor (international relations) and Baylor Law, and has long lived in Plano (though he's just outside the district line), is married with four kids and an active church-goer. He served on a carrier during Operation Desert Shield and describes himself as a vet who will stand up against the War in Iraq. He also says he's appalled at Sessions' voting record for vets.  He mentions a $54 million bill to buy prosthetics for veterans that lost by one vote.  Republicans voted as a party against the bill, and Sessions voted with the other Republicans.

"People send someone to Congress to exercise independent judgment -- not to vote a party line," Roberson says.  Sessions, first elected in 1996, has long been known to members of the press as a congressman who rarely veers from the GOP's talking points in speeches and conversation or from the expected Republican party vote.

Roberson may have to fend off attacks that he's an opportunistic party-switcher.  He explains why he left the GOP.  "I realized the values I held dear were no longer reflected in the Republican Party leadership," he said, citing a balanced budget, separation of powers and "the idea that even the president has to follow the law."

He also had begun to feel that in order to be a Republican, "you had to be aligned on every specific topic or your were going to get stabbed in the back.  You had to be a perfect conservative."

Roberson says he doesn't want to be painted into a box, but wants to look at every issue and vote his conscience, whether the proposal is Democratic or Republican.  As a centrist Democrat, he would join the Blue Dog caucus and the Democratic Leadership Council, which has advocated a "main street" approach since the days of Bill Clinton.

Roberson obviously is swimming upstream as a Democrat in CD 32.  In 2004, in an break-the-bank, nationally watched race between Session and veteran Democratic congressman and Washington insider Martin Frost (who had been redistricted out of his district), Sessions won overwhelmingly -- by 10 points. 

Roberson has his work cut out for him, but Democrats are emboldened by a new sense of optimism. They're looking forward to a huge, enthusiastic Democratic turnout and a suppressed Republican turnout.  This is clearly not a prediction, but as former state and political analyst Rep. Domingo Garcia said about Roberson: "If we have a Democratic wave, he could be carried across." 

For more info on the candidates and a map of the district, go to their Web sites: ericroberson.org and petesessions.com

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