SARTELL, Minn. (AP) – Sartell Mayor Joe Perske is joining the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Perske said Tuesday he’ll seek the DFL endorsement to run in the 6th District.

Perske says he would "work with others to restore the middle class." He also says the U.S. House is "drowning in its own dysfunction," which he attributes in part to what he calls Bachmann’s "extremely partisan conduct."

Perske was elected mayor three years ago after six years on the Sartell City Council.

He has taught and coached in the Sartell School District for 25 years.