Democrat Plans Run Against DeLay

Former Texas Lawmaker Lost House Seat in GOP Redistricting

Last November, four-term Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Tex.) lost his job after a controversial redrawing of the state's congressional seats -- engineered by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) -- left Lampson in a district that was more than half new to him and much more heavily Republican than before.

Now, with DeLay facing a barrage of questions about lavish overseas trips and close dealings with lobbyists, Lampson wants to settle the score for the redistricting, which cost four veteran Texas congressmen their seats and is known by local Democrats as "Tommymandering."

Lampson, a moderate Democrat and one-time public school teacher from Beaumont, plans to formally file papers as a candidate today and then to move into DeLay's suburban Houston district. He said he will spend $4 million or more to try to defeat the majority leader, using ethics as a major issue.

Two recent polls by local news organizations contained troubling news for DeLay, and Democrats contend that his problems are distracting him from his job and provide them with an unusual opportunity to knock off a GOP leader. DeLay was admonished by the House ethics committee three times last year. When the panel is formally reconstituted this week after a four-month hiatus, it will consider whether to launch a formal investigation of DeLay's travel and dealings with lobbyists.

"He's certainly caught up in a swirl of scandal and corruption," Lampson said in a telephone interview yesterday, adding that he is not convinced DeLay is properly focused "on just serving the people of that district."

With Democrats in Washington vowing to pour as much money as necessary into the Texas district if they determine that Lampson has a chance, the race for the 22nd District seat could wind up as one of the marquee contests of the 2006 midterm elections. DeLay's strategists have expressed concern that the absence of a presidential race next year could make his district a magnet for huge spending by liberal interest groups and labor-backed political organizations, although business interests could be expected to answer overwhelmingly if DeLay needs them.

DeLay found himself in a tighter race than he expected last November against a relatively unknown Democrat. He won 55 percent of the vote and ran well behind President Bush. DeLay spent $3 million on his reelection. Republican sources said he plans to raise more than $5 million this time.

Bush taped a telephone message to help turn out DeLay's voters in November. White House officials were surprised that the majority leader needed that kind of help.

The redistricting plan that hurt Lampson was one reason for DeLay's straits. While the plan maximized the number of Republican districts in the state, it diluted the party's strength in a few GOP-held districts, including DeLay's.

Although administration and GOP officials said yesterday that they consider Lampson a weak opponent, a vigorous challenge to DeLay would force Bush and Vice President Cheney to decide whether they want to risk their own political capital as DeLay is excoriated as a symbol of Republican excess.

A close race could also force DeLay to spend more time at home and less time raising money for the party's candidates elsewhere.

Dan Allen, DeLay's communications director, said the majority leader "is focused on the job he was elected to do," which is working on issues important to constituents -- including expanding the economy, fully funding the space program and fighting for tax cuts.

DeLay, 58, was first elected to the House in 1984. Lampson, 60, was the ranking Democrat on the space subcommittee of the House science panel when he left Congress. DeLay's redistricting had moved the Johnson Space Center from Lampson's district to his own.

Lampson said he believes character will be a major issue as DeLay seeks a 12th term.

"Maybe the adage that 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely' rings true," he said.