Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, a primary architect of the Republican majority who became one of the most powerful and feared leaders in Washington, told House allies Monday night he will give up his seat rather than face a re-election fight that appears increasingly unwinnable.

Officials told CNN and The Associated Press that DeLay also is likely to resign his seat and leave Congress by the end of May.

DeLay was expected to disclose his plans today, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the congressman had not made that announcement.

The decision came three days after his former deputy chief of staff, Tony C. Rudy, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and corruption charges, telling federal prosecutors of a criminal enterprise being run out of DeLay's leadership offices. Rudy's plea agreement did not implicate DeLay in any illegal activities, but by placing the influence-buying efforts of lobbyist Jack Abramoff directly in DeLay's operation, the former aide may have made an already difficult re-election bid all but out of reach.

Under Texas law, DeLay, who will turn 59 on Saturday, must either die, be convicted of a felony, or move out of his district to be removed from the November ballot. DeLay told Time magazine that he is likely to change his official residence to Alexandria, Va., by the end of May. He said he informed President Bush of his decision Monday afternoon.

"This had become a referendum on me," he told Time in an article posted on the magazine's Web site. "So it's better for me to step aside and let it be a referendum on ideas, Republican values and what's important for this district."

Democratic House campaign officials have been hoping to face DeLay in November, believing him to be the weakest Republican candidate they could hope for.

Sources close to DeLay said his decision was motivated by concerns that he might lose his suburban Houston seat to his Democratic opponent, former Rep. Nick Lampson, and his belief that another Republican could win instead. Once DeLay steps aside, the Texas Republican Party will choose a replacement candidate.

Troubling polls

DeLay got a temporary political boost last month when he fended off three challengers to win a Republican primary with 62 percent of the vote. But recent polls showed an uphill climb against Lampson and another former congressman, Steve Stockman, who had cut his ties to the Republican Party to run as an independent.

In early January, a Houston Chronicle poll showed DeLay trailing Lampson 30 percent to 22 percent, with Stockman taking 11 percent.

A December poll by CNN, USA Today and Gallup also indicated that a credible Democrat could beat DeLay.

However, Richard Cullen, DeLay's lawyer, said Monday evening that his client's decision to withdraw was "not connected to the criminal investigation."

Cullen said: "This decision was made before the Rudy plea. That didn't enter into it. It was personal and political."

DeLay's decision capped a long, difficult slide from power that began in September, when a Texas grand jury indicted him on money-laundering and illegal campaign finance charges. Under House Republican rules, DeLay had no choice but to relinquish his post as majority leader, but he vowed to beat the charges and quickly return to power.

In the ensuing months, the separate federal corruption probe stemming from Abramoff's activities drew closer to DeLay, first eliciting a guilty plea from DeLay's former press secretary, Michael Scanlon, then from Abramoff, whom DeLay once described as "one of my closest and dearest friends." Some House Republicans publicly stated DeLay could not be allowed to return to the House leadership if his implication in the Abramoff scandal appeared inevitable.

Next page >