SOUTH PORTLAND — The state’s Democratic Party says it will campaign for Cynthia Dill to ensure that a Democrat retains the seat representing Senate District 7.

Dill, a state representative from Cape Elizabeth, was nominated Tuesday night by a Democratic caucus to run for the seat that will be vacated by Sen. Larry Bliss, D-South Portland.

The district covers South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and part of Scarborough.

Bliss, who had been unemployed for several months, announced last month that he has accepted an administrative job in the California State University System. He had been director of the career center at the University of Southern Maine for 20 years.

Dill will face Republican Louie Maietta Jr. of South Portland, who was nominated to compete for Bliss’ seat during a Republican caucus Saturday in Cape Elizabeth.

Maietta, who lives in South Portland, served in the state House from 2002 to 2004. He chose not to seek re-election so that he could spend more time developing a family-owned business.

He is now employed as a commercial property manager.

The special election will be held May 10, which gives the candidates a little over a month to campaign.

“Clearly, this a critical campaign. We must hold this Senate seat,” Bliss told the caucus Tuesday night.

November’s elections left Democrats in the minority in the House and Senate. They hold 14 of the 35 Senate seats.

Senate Minority Leader Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, and Assistant Minority Leader Justin Alfond, D-Portland, both attended Tuesday’s caucus at South Portland City Hall.

Mary Erin Casale, executive director of the Maine Democratic Party, said, “The party is committed to being all-hands-on-deck for this election.”

Of the 30 delegates who cast votes, 21 voted for Dill and nine voted for South Portland City Councilor Tom Blake. Rob Schreiber, the other candidate, did not receive any votes.

Paul Aronson, a former Cumberland County district attorney, had indicated that he would seek the nomination but said he decided to drop out because “the numbers just weren’t there.”

Dill, a civil rights lawyer whose practice is in Cape Elizabeth, has served in the Legislature since 2006.

She recently started an online petition aimed at gathering support for legislation to establish a recall process for elected officials. More than 13,000 people have signed the petition, according to Dill.

“The recall petition has taken on a life of its own, but I want you to understand that it will not be my focus in Augusta,” said Dill, who promised to focus on job creation and protection of the environment. “You will always know where I stand. I’m not afraid to fight for what I believe in.”

If Dill wins May 10, a special election will have to be held to fill her House seat.

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:dhoey@pressherald.com