SEATTLE — Eleven candidates are running for the privilege of serving one month in the U.S. House of Representatives from the old 1st District, which includes Kitsap County until Jan. 3. On that date, Kitsap County becomes part of the 6th District because of redistricting. The successful candidate will complete the term of Jay Inslee, who resigned to run for governor. But by the time the election results are certified, the winner will have about one month to serve before the new Congress takes office.

Of the 11 candidates, nine are Democrats, two are Republican, one is Independent. Five are also running for the full two-year term as representative from the new 1st District, which does not include Kitsap County.

Washington State Democrats Chairman Dwight Pelz hoped a compromise candidate would be on the ballot for the old 1st District seat to avoid voter confusion. He blamed Darcy Burner, candidate for the old and new 1st District seats, for the number of candidates that ultimately filed.       “Many people have worked over the last few weeks to find the best approach to filling the vacant seat in the 1st Congressional District,” Pelz said in a statement issued after candidate filing closed. “Our goal was to minimize voter confusion and maximize the opportunity to elect a Democrat in the New 1st Congressional District.

“We worked with all of the candidates running in the New 1st District and reached near consensus that it would be best if they each filed in only one race; but with an understanding that if one of the candidates entered both races then all would feel compelled to compete on an equal footing. Brian Sullivan stepped forward to serve as a consensus Democratic candidate in the Old 1st District.”

Sullivan, a Snohomish County Council member, served in the state House of Representatives from 2001-07. He is not running for the new 1st District Congressional seat.

“I am very disappointed that Darcy Burner chose to put her own perceived self interest ahead of that of the public by breaking ranks and filing in both races. I understand that the others will have no choice but to do the same.”

Burner, a former Microsoft project manager, ran for Congress from the 8th District in 2006 and 2008.