House Speaker Paul Ryan on Monday asked Dallas voters to re-elect Pete Sessions, one of his top lieutenants who is locked in a tough contest against Democrat Colin Allred.

At the Manda Machine Company in northwest Dallas, Ryan praised Sessions for helping push through the 2017 Republican-supported tax cuts that he says helps small businesses.

"We knew it would work, and the great thing is it is working," Ryan said of the tax cuts. "We are seeing jobs coming back to America. ... That is why we are asking people to send us Pete Sessions again,"

Ryan said Sessions, who joined him for a tour of Manda, was a good advocate for his district and a strong voice in Congress.

"Pete Sessions is a leader in the House who made sure that when we did tax reform we did it the right way so it helps families and workers and small businesses," he said.

Allred blasted Ryan for coming to Dallas to stump for Sessions.

"It's not surprising that Speaker Ryan is parachuting into Dallas to prop up Congressman Sessions, after Sessions helped push Washington's tax bill that gives massive handouts to corporate special interests while blowing a $1.9 trillion hole in the deficit," Allred said in a prepared statement. "This Washington thank-you note is just more evidence Congressman Sessions has lost touch with our community, and families here in North Texas are ready for a representative who will put all of us ahead of special interest groups and campaign donors."

Sessions echoed Ryan's remarks.

"When America has competitive tax rates ... we succeed," he said. "Dallas is the epicenter of free enterprise. No city has benefited more from the tax cuts than Dallas, Texas."

Sessions is arguing that dumping him for Allred would be disastrous for small businesses because it could lead to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California becoming House Speaker. Democrats, still wounded by Trump's stunning 2016 victory of Hillary Clinton, have energized for the midterm elections, which history shows can be troublesome for the party in power.

"It's not surprising that Speaker Ryan is parachuting into Dallas to prop up Congressman Sessions, after Sessions helped push Washington's tax bill that gives massive handouts to corporate special interests while blowing a $1.9 trillion hole in the deficit," Democratic congressional candidate Colin Allred said Monday. (Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer)

Sessions said Trump and Republicans have done a lot for the nation, pointing to the steady economy and talks with North Korea to get that nation to abandon its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.

Though Trump is unpopular in many parts of Dallas County, Sessions is running on his own record. The longtime congressman is chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee.

He's also warning voters that "Allred is from the left wing of the Democratic Party" with policy proposals supported by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

"I will ask people to judge me on the things that I have done," Sessions said.