THE resignation of Bainbridge Island Democrat Jay Inslee from his 1st Congressional District seat so he could run for Washington governor created a strange double election.

Voters will not only choose a representative for the redrawn 1st District because of changes after the U.S. Census but also select a stand-in for only the month of December from the old 1st District.

Sunday, the Times endorsed state Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, for the new 1st District, but we overlooked recommending a candidate for this odd circumstance — of holding office for one month in the old district.

Here is the best solution: Write in the name of Hobbs for the special election. He chose to focus on the full term and is not on the ballot in the special election.

Indeed, this is a curious exercise. Voters in the old district boundaries will pick the placeholder.

The wee election in the old 1st has attracted a smattering of candidates running for the full term in the new district — a tactic that gives them the ability to raise twice the amount of money from their contributors — and, well, others. Vote for Hobbs twice: once as a write-in candidate in the old district, and again if you live in the new 1st Congressional District boundaries.

This is a silly exercise, but given the circumstances, voters must do it with resignation.