East Boston voters will head to the polls Tuesday, April 12 for the First Suffolk and Middlesex District State Senate Special Election.

Seven Democratic candidates, including three East Boston residents, Lydia Edwards, Diana Hwang, and Paul Rogers, are vying for the seat previously held by Anthony Petruccelli, who stepped down to take a position in the private sector.

The other candidates are attorney Joseph Boncore, a Winthrop resident whose family has a law practice in East Boston, State Rep. Jay Livingstone of Beacon Hill, former Revere mayor Dan Rizzo, and current Revere councillor-at-large Steven Maribito.

While the March 1 Massachusetts Presidential Primary occupied voters’ attention in the winter month, the State Senate election now has the political spotlight to itself. In recent days, Boston’s daily newspapers announced their endorsements. Edwards received the endorsement from The Boston Globe while Hwang received the nod from The Boston Herald.

Candidates have spent the past few months campaigning throughout the district and participating in candidate forums. Political observers say the race is very close.

The winner of Tuesday’s primary will in essence be the next state senator for the district as no Republican candidates are running for the seat.

The winning candidate will have big shoes to fill. Petruccelli was a very popular and effective legislator, having preceded his impressive record as a state senator with his service as East Boston’s state representative.