Democrats have quietly opposed research into Lyme disease because Lyme discourages the hunting and shooting sports. This serves two purposes:

a) Discourages hunters, shooters, guns, &etc. (i.e., those who exercise the 2nd Amendment).

b) leaves federal and state park lands closed to those activities, allowing them to be used for other more liberal-friendly recreational/industrial activities (e.g., hiking, biking, birdwatching, mining, commercial fishing, &c.).

FWIW hunting exposes a person to more risk than hiking or camping since you're handling the carcass of an animal that almost assuredly is tick-infested.