What so many in the news media forget is that the reason Delay was so concerned about the Texas Legislature was to maintain his base of power and corruption. Delay already admits why he was so concerned with the state elections.
Tom Delay was concerned about winning seats in the Texas Legislature for the sole purpose of maintaining power. He was not trying to find the best or the brightest people for these offices. What he wanted was people who could follow instructions. People who would do his bidding to redistrict the state. That is precisely what he got.
However, the Governor and the Lt. Governor colluded with Delay and company for the redistricting of Texas. The scene that would remind us of that was when the legislature was having problems drawing the line. The Pimp Delay traveled to Texas to bitch-slap his "ladies" in line and derive a suitable division of the state.
When they were successfull they then sought to find candidates whose sole qualifications was loyalty the Delay machine. They were the ones who keep him in power. In short corruption was not only the process it was also the reason.