National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.) is headlining a dinner and reception for freshman Rep. Tim Walberg (R) tonight at Bistro Bis, near the Capitol.

Walberg, who beat then-Rep. Joe Schwarz in the GOP primary last year, is soliciting contributions from $1,000 to $2,000.

Democrats think Walberg, an unyielding conservative, could be vulnerable in the south-central 7th district.

Schwarz was a moderate, and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (Md.) said Walberg is “not in sync” with the majority of the district that gave President Bush 54 percent of the vote in the 2004 White House election.

— Nicole Duran