State Rep. Tom Campbell (R-Roy) is rumored to be considering a run for Congress in the 9th Congressional District, Joe Turner at the Tacoma News-Tribune is reporting, on one condition: that he doesn't have to run against incumbent Adam Smith.

Rep. Smith, who was an early and prominent supporter of President-elect Barack Obama and acted as his state chair, has been rumored as a possible appointee in the Obama administration. Smith was also the state chair for 2004 Democratic Party presidential nominee John Kerry.

If Smith does leave the House, Turner says, Campbell may throw his hat into the ring for the 2010 race. The 2nd District representative is an Army veteran and a former Democrat who has won praise from a politically diverse set of interests including the Sierra Club and the National Rifle Association.

Smith has represented the 9th District, which was first created in 1992, since 1997. Prior to Smith the district elected a Democrat for one term, Washington's current Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler from 1993-1995, and one Republican, Randy Tate. Prior to that he was elected twice to the state Senate from the 33rd District, where he unseated a Republican incumbent at the age of 25.