Robert Sopuck (Napoleon's World)

Robert Sopuck (born July 11, 1951) is a former Nationalist politician from the state of Kahokia, where he served as United States Representative for the 1st District from 2007-2009. Prior to Congress, Sopuck was a State Senator from 1995-2007, rising to the position of Senate Minority Leader for the 2005-2007 term. A key ally of Nationalist Governor Gary Filmon in the 1990s, Sopuck ran to replace US Rep. Brian Pallister in the 2000 elections as the consensus party favorite and narrowly lost to Democrat Pat Martin. After his 2000 election defeat, Sopuck focused on building up the party's caucus, winning seats in the State Senate in 2002 and 2004. In 2006, he sought a rematch with Martin, winning 60-40 in the largest defeat of an incumbent that year as the National Party retook both Houses of Congress. His efforts in Kahokia paid off, too - the National Party flipped the State Senate to take control for the first time since 1924 while also flipping the Assembly. Late in his first term, Sopuck announced he would run for Governor in 2008 rather than Senator, not wanting to face off with popular outgoing Governor Gary Doer. He narrowly was defeated by State Treasurer Greg Selinger and subsequently retired from politics.