CAPE ELIZABETH — Democrat Kim Monaghan-Derrig has won the special election today for House District 121, representing most of Cape Elizabeth.

Monaghan-Derrig beat out Republican Nancy Thompson.

Unofficial results, posted by the town of Cape Elizabeth around 8:30 p.m., counted 1,340 for Monaghan-Derrig and 1,164 for Thompson.

The District 121 seat was vacated in May by Cynthia Dill. The Democrat left the seat to run for an open state Senate seat, to which she was elected on May 10.

Both Monaghan-Derrig and Thompston are 52 and neither one had ever run for state office.

Monaghan-Derrig, who grew up in Cape Elizabeth with six siblings, works in tourism marketing. She has served on the town’s school board, has a background in economic development and is pursuing a master’s degree in public policy at the Muskie School of Public Service in Portland.

Thompson is an insurance agent and a 25-year resident of Cape Elizabeth with a record of community service. She is a well-known advocate for suicide prevention and education about mental illness. Her 18-year-old son, Timmy, the middle child of five, took his own life in July 2004.