Twin Cities CEO considers U.S. Senate run against Al Franken

The co-CEO of a Minneapolis-based finance and asset management firm says he's thinking about running against DFL Sen. Al Franken in 2014.

Mike McFadden of the firm Lazard Middle Market has been meeting with political consultants and Republican Party leaders to talk about a possible run.

"I am giving very serious consideration to run against Sen. Franken," McFadden told MPR News. "I'm in the process of talking with my family, friends, colleagues and party leaders about the potential candidacy."

McFadden did not say when he would make a decision about the race.

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McFadden is the first Republican to indicate that he's seriously considering challenging Franken in 2014.

Lazard Middle Market is a branch of Lazard Financial, a global investment bank.

Rep. Erik Paulsen and Rep. John Kline have not ruled out challenging Franken.

Franken has been raising money and organizing his campaign despite the lack of a challenger. He announced last month the hiring of Matt Burgess as his campaign manager.