This is a fascinating turn of events. Hawaii congressman Neil Abercrombie announced his retirement (and intent to run for governor), but isn’t saying precisely when, and the state is saying it doesn’t have the money for a special election.

(Boy, Abercrombie’s primary and general-election rivals just got an easy line of attack: “The first decision of his campaign cost the state $2 million.”)

Could this House seat really go unfilled for the better part of a year?