JAMESTOWN, N.D. (AP) — A Democratic state lawmaker from District 12, from North Dakota is seeking his party’s nomination to the U.S. House of Representatives.Fifty-four-year-old John Grabinger served as assistant Senate minority leader during the last legislative session.

Grabinger also served  eight years on the Jamestown City Council, prior to election to the North Dakota legislature.

He says he’s running for Congress because he wants more bipartisan leadership at the federal level.

Republicans have dominated the political scene in North Dakota. Grabinger, who owns a boat dealership in Jamestown, says he considers himself a moderate Democrat who would work for bilateral solutions for North Dakota and the nation.

Grabinger is the party’s second declared House candidate. He joins Ben Hanson, a commercial real estate broker from Fargo and one-term state representative who lost his seat in 2016.

Two Republican state senators, Kelly Armstrong and Tom Campbell, have announced their bids for the U.S. House.

The state  Democratic convention March 15-18 in Grand Forks at the Alerus Center.

Grabinger also served  eight years on the Jamestown City Council, prior to election to the North Dakota legislature.