Fast Facts: Tom DeLay

LEGAL STATUS

— Judge dismisses conspiracy charge.

— Judge refuses to throw out the far more serious allegations of money-laundering.

— Delay still can't reclaiming his post as House majority leader.

— Texas Judge Pat Priest's ruling means, for now, the case will move toward a trial next year.

— Other defense objections remain to be heard by the judge.

POLL AND POLITICS

— CNN-USA Today/Gallup poll shows DeLay's political standing has weakened around his Texas home district.

— Survey found that 49 percent of registered voters questioned said they are more likely to vote for a Democratic challenger.

— 36 percent said they would be more likely to vote for DeLay.

— 55 percent of registered voters say charges DeLay broke campaign finance laws are definitely or probably true.

— 34 percent said charges probably or definitely not true.

— Former Democratic Congressman Nick Lampson is planning to challenge DeLay in the 2006 elections.

CAREER

— Elected to represent the 22nd District of Texas in Congress in 1984.

— Elected Majority Whip in 1994.

— Elected Majority leader (unopposed) in 2002.

EARLY BATTLES

— DeLay was part of a group that tried, but failed, to oust House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

— DeLay attacked the Electronics Industries Alliance for hiring a former Democratic congressman as its president.

— House ethics committee rebukes Delay for action against Electronics Industries Alliance.

— House ethics committee admonishes Delay for offering to support the House candidacy of Michigan Republican Rep. Nick Smith's son in return for the lawmaker's vote for a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

— House ethics committee said DeLay created the appearance of linking political donations to a legislative favor.

— Delay also chastised for seeking the Federal Aviation Administration's intervention in a Texas political dispute.

HOUSE ACTIONS AGAINST DELAY

— January 2005: House Republicans reverse a controversial rule passed in November 2004 that would have allowed DeLay to keep his leadership post if he were indicted.

— April 2005: House Republicans scrap controversial new ethics committee rules passed earlier in the year that would have made it harder to proceed with an ethics investigation. Democrats charged the rules were meant to protect DeLay.