AUGUSTA — The executive director of the Maine Democratic Party is stepping down.

The party said Thursday that Mary Erin Casale is leaving her post and will be replaced by Finance Director Jeremy Kennedy until a new executive director is announced next month.

Casale has been executive director since 2011.

She said in a statement that it has always been her “intention to step down at the end of this year to pursue other opportunities.”

Ben Grant, the former chairman of the party, left his post shortly after the November elections, when Democrats suffered significant losses.

He was replaced by Phil Bartlett, a Democratic national committeeman and former Maine Senate majority leader.