Another R retires and almost too late for Republicans to find a candidate.

Friday's retirement announcement by Republican Rep. Elton Gallegly, just hours before the filing deadline for the June 6 primary in California's 24th District, was a surprise to just about everybody -- including, apparently, the people who work for him. Staffers at his district office in Simi Valley said they were unaware of the congressman's decision until they received his press release.

Shock quickly turned to political chaos, as it was immediately unclear how Gallegly could be replaced on the Republican primary ballot, and by whom.

In his prepared statement, Gallegly cited a medical issue that "is yet to be resolved," and said he had been working for two weeks to determine how to remove his name from the ballot. "With no incumbent or other Republican in the race, I am confident candidates will come forward," Gallegly said.

He added that it "would not be fair to my constituents and supporters should I be forced to withdraw from the race mid-year."

Yet that may be exactly what will have to happen. Gallegly had filed to run for re-election before making his announcement. And Nghia Nguyen Demovic -- the press secretary for the office of the Secretary of State, which oversees California's elections -- said a candidate cannot legally pull his name off the ballot once he has qualified and the filing deadline has passed.

If that is correct -- and barring the discovery of a legal loophole -- Gallegly will have to remain on the June 6 primary ballot. That will leave state Republican officials and would-be successor candidates scrambling to state election law experts to see how Gallegly could be replaced if he were to win the primary but renounce his nomination.