ST. PAUL — Gov. Mark Dayton is calling a special election to fill an open seat in the House triggered by a veteran Democrat’s death after a short battle with cancer.

Dayton announced Monday a Dec. 8 special election for Rep. David Dill’s massive northeastern Minnesota district. Dill died of cancer earlier this month. He was in the middle of his seventh term in the House.

The district is the largest in Minnesota, covering Koochiching, Cook, Lake and northern St. Louis counties.

One Democrat has already lined up to take Dill’s place. Koochiching County Commissioner Rob Ecklund registered a campaign committee with the state last week.