Mike McFadden, the finance firm executive who was the first Republican to announce a challenge to U.S. Sen. Al Franken, responded with a brief statement to Tuesday's news that another Republican, state Rep. Jim Abeler, was joining the race.
McFadden welcomed him to the race and said he looks "forward to seeing him on the campaign trail, but my focus remains drawing a distinction between myself and Sen. Al Franken."
Another Republican, state Sen. Julianne Ortman of Carver County, has said she's "seriously considering" running against Franken.
