U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie will resign his seat in Congress so he can campaign full time in the Democratic primary for governor.

In a post on his campaign Web site this morning, the Hawaii Democrat said he planned to make a formal announcement on Sunday.
“This is an extremely difficult decision for me, but I must do this to continue with the direction I’ve chosen for the future,” Abercrombie said in a statement. “Accordingly, I’ve concluded that I must resign my congressional seat and allow someone to be elected who will carry on the work of this office. The effective date of my resignation will be announced soon.”
Abercrombie, who has served two decades in the U.S. House, announced his campaign for governor last March. At the time, he said he did not plan to resign his congressional seat.
But Abercrombie is facing a likely primary challenge from Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who has raised more money than the congressman and has picked up several key endorsements from business and community leaders even though he has yet to formally announce his campaign.
Abercrombie's resignation triggers a special election to fill the remaining months of his two-year term.
Former congressman Ed Case, state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou, who previously announced that they would run to replace Abercrombie in Congress, all said today that they will run in the special election.
A special election could be complicated.
The state Office of Elections is understaffed and struggling to function after state budget cuts. Legal challenges have also left the state with no voting machines.
Candidates who previously thought they had months to build their campaigns may now just have several weeks, depending on when a special election is called. Unlike a primary, which involves candidates from a single political party, a special election would be winner-take-all and would include candidates from all political parties.
A primary and general election would still be held next year to permanently replace Abercrombie in Congress.
A special election would also likely attract national attention from the two major political parties, which are aggressively competing for control of Congress in 2010.
Case, who won two special elections to replace the late U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink, said he believes he has the advantage.
“I’m going to step into Neil’s shoes on the first day and Hawaii is not going to miss a beat,” he said.
Hanabusa, D-21st (Nanakuli, Makaha), said she believes she has the skill-set as a legislator to serve in Congress.
“I believe that Hawaii is in a critical crisis, the nation is in a critical crisis right now, and we need somebody up there who can work with the rest of the congressional delegation and have Hawaii’s interests at heart.”
Hanabusa said she has no immediate plans to step down from her leadership role as Senate president but would re-evaluate when the date of the special election is announced.
Djou said he will be distinguished by being the only serious Republican contender with a background of fiscal conservatism. He said he has already heard from the National Republican Congressional Committee about possible financial and tactical help.
“Obviously, this is something that works tremendously to my advantage,” Djou said. “If I’m the only Republican candidate, I’m the only clear fiscal conservative in this race.”
Abercrombie is leaving Capitol Hill as issues he cares deeply about — from the federal recognition of Native Hawaiians to the war in Afghanistan and health care reform — are coming to fruition.
But the 11-term lawmaker has told President Obama and the leadership of his party that he will remain in office to cast key votes, likely through the end of the year.
Those votes could include House action on health care and a bill that would grant Native Hawaiians the same federal recognition that American Indians enjoy.
One of the House committees Abercrombie sits on — natural resources — is expected to take up the historic Native Hawaiian legislation next week.
Abercrombie, 71, has scheduled a news conference for Sunday in Hawaii, when he is expected to detail when he will officially leave office.
As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Abercrombie was poised to cast important votes in the coming months on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He opposed the war in Iraq and was deeply conflicted about the 30,000-troop surge that Obama recently announced for Afghanistan.
Obama’s new Afghanistan policy has pit the party’s liberal base against its centrists and Obama loyalists.
Abercrombie found himself caught in that debate.
Other members of the state’s congressional delegation offered praise today for Abercrombie’s record of service.
U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii, said in a statement that Abercrombie’s decision was a surprise.
"Congressman Abercrombie's announcement is a surprise and leaves us a vote shy in the House at a time when major policy changes like health-care reform, a war spending measure, the Akaka Bill and others are shaping up for debate and passage,” he said. “However, I accept the congressman's decision and I thank him for his 10 terms of service in the U.S. Congress. I wish him well."
U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said in a statement that Abercrombie served with honor and integrity.
“I’ve known Neil for a long time, and I will miss working with him in Congress. As a friend and colleague, we have worked well together over the years on behalf of the people of Hawaii,” she said.
“Neil is respected by both Democrats and Republicans in the House, and I know that his voice will be missed by many who consider him a close friend. He has served with honor and integrity over the past two decades and has been a strong and effective advocate for Hawaii.”
Jonah Ka'auwai, the state GOP chairman, described Abercrombie’s decision as a “desperate move.”
“Abercrombie’s resignation is simply a desperate move by the Democrat Party to steal the election from the frontrunner Charles Djou,” he said in a statement.  
“Today, Furlough Friday, children are at home because of our failed Democrat-dominated politics.  Yet Rep. Neil Abercrombie is going to force a special election and waste millions of dollars for what can only be described as his own personal political greed.  How can someone who wants to hold the state’s highest office possibly believe this is right for the state of Hawaii?”