[Update from comments:
Reuters is reporting how this affects GOP spot on the ballot. Snippets from that article after the jump.]
From
Raw Story:
Congressman Tom DeLay
Representing the 22nd District of Texas
For Immediate Release
DeLay Notifies Speaker of June 9 Resignation Date
WASHINGTON - Congressman Tom DeLay (R-Sugar Land) today delivered the following letter to the Speaker of the House announcing his intention to resign his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives effective June 9, 2006....
The text of the letter follows.
The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
The Capitol Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Speaker:
It has been a great privilege, a high honor, and one of my most treasured personal pleasures to have served with you and our colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than twenty-one years. You have been a stellar example for our nation of personal courage and steadfast conviction, and I thank you for your leadership of this great institution as well as for your personal friendship.
As you are aware, I have recently made the decision to pursue new opportunities to engage in the important cultural and political battles of our day from an arena outside of the U.S. House of Representatives. As a result, I am informing you of my intention to formally resign as the representative of the 22nd Congressional District of Texas to be effective at the close of business on June 9, 2006.
May God continue to bless you, the President, this great institution and its Members, and our nation.
Sincerely,
Tom DeLay
Member of Congress
Here's what Reuters has:
DeLay To Resign June 9
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas said on Thursday he would formally resign his seat in Congress effective June 9, clearing the way for another Republican to take his spot on the November election ballot....
DeLay said last month he would step aside to give the party a better shot at holding his House seat in Texas. Seven Republicans are vying for the right to replace DeLay in the November race against Democrat Nick Lampson.
The contenders interviewed over the weekend with local party leaders in DeLay's home district. The local leaders will pick the new candidate, probably sometime in June, in a race considered potentially one of the most competitive in the country.