Mike McFadden

McFadden was born in 1964. He grew up in a Catholic family of Irish descent in Omaha, Nebraska, the eldest of five siblings.[3]

McFadden attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics.[4] He played varsity football for the Tommies alongside his friend and roommate Vince Flynn, the late author of the New York Times best-selling Mitch Rapp book series.[5] After college, McFadden earned a J.D. from Georgetown University.[6]

Between college and law school, McFadden worked as a marketing representative for IBM.[7] After law school, he worked briefly as an attorney in New York City before deciding to move back to Minnesota.[3]

McFadden kicked off his campaign for U.S. Senate on May 29, 2013.[19] It was his first bid for public office.[20] McFadden faced incumbent Democratic Senator Al Franken in the general election. McFadden received endorsements from former U.S. Senators Rudy Boschwitz,[21] Norm Coleman and Rod Grams,[22] all Republicans from Minnesota. His platform included jobs, education and addressing the national debt.[23]

McFadden was critical of the Affordable Care Act, and Franken's vote to pass it.[24] His campaign released a web video featuring Franken promising that people could keep their current plans under the act, but Franken's campaign stated that the video was taken out of context.[25]

In July 2013, McFadden stated, "I'm working with a team of experts to come forward with detailed [plans] on health care. It's not enough just to say no to Obamacare. We need to provide an alternative. And we will, and we're working on that."[26]

A critic of government shutdowns, McFadden has called the tactic "draconian",[27] and criticized Franken for scheduling a celebrity-filled fundraiser during the 2013 shutdown.[28]

In his first four months as a candidate, McFadden raised over $1.5 million for his campaign.[29] In the Republican primary on August 13, McFadden won the party's nomination.[30]

McFadden's Senate campaign was unsuccessful, receiving 42.91 percent of the vote to Franken's 53.15 percent.[31]

Mike and his wife Mary Kate live in Sunfish Lake, Minnesota, with their six children.[32] His two eldest sons, Conor and Patrick, played football for Stanford University.[33]