Long-time state legislator Sen. Dick Day filed his candidacy for the First District seat of U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday, according to campaign staff. The Rochester native resides in Owatonna, having served as a senator since 1990. He was Senate majority leader for almost a decade.

Day’s top priority will be energy — specifically on increasing supplies of existing and new fuels. He will also focus on tighter immigration policy, repealing No Child Left Behind and ending wasteful spending.

“Day believes he most accurately represents the views of southern Minnesotans and that the energy and passion that he is known for, and his courage and persistence are the qualities that will beat Tim Walz,” according to an e-mail from his campaign.

He must first face fellow Congressional hopeful Brian Davis, also a Republican, in the Sept. 9 primary.

Day worked as a salesman for IBM for 27 years. He served as a Steele County commissioner and Owatonna City Council member before winning his Senate seat.