Longtime state legislator Sen. Dick Day filed his candidacy for the 1st 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 Minnesota 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.