Democrats in the newly reconfigured 45th state House of Representatives District endorsed a placeholder candidate during an online convention Wednesday, in the hopes that an interested candidate can be found.

Democrats endorsed Kayla Thompson of Preston as a placeholder candidate during a convention held Wednesday on Zoom, said Nicholas Vegliante, chairman of the Democratic Town Committee in Preston. Thompson’s name will be on the ballot as a placeholder to allow time for the district to find interested candidates, Vegliante said.

Any Democrats interested in becoming a candidate should contact Democratic town committee chairpersons in their district town, or email Vegliante at npvdtc@gmail.com.

Preston is new to the 45th District that also includes Griswold, Voluntown and parts of Ledyard and Lisbon. Preston previously was in the 42nd District, represented by Ledyard Republican Mike France. The district was eliminated in statewide redistricting this spring.

The 45th District now is held by Republican state Rep. Brian Lanoue of Griswold.