Michael Cryans, a Grafton County Commissioner, plans to run for the Executive Council seat left empty by the death of Ray Burton.
Cryans is a Democrat and Littleton native who for sixteen years has been a county commissioner, serving alongside Burton, a Republican.
In 1996 Cryans ran against Burton for executive council and lost.
But last year, in the race for county commissioner, Burton endorsed Cryans over a Republican challenger.
Being an executive councilor is a good way to serve the state and constituents in a very large district, Cryans said in an interview.
Cryans, 62, is the executive director of Headrest, a non-profit in Lebanon that provides addiction and crisis support.
Senator Jeff Woodburn, a Democrat who represents the North Country, was thought to be a likely candidate.
But earlier this week he announced he would not run.
“The raw size of this district, now encompassing two-thirds of the state, would require me to spent too much time away from home," he wrote in an e-mail.
There will be a primary on January 21 followed by a special election on March 11.