FALCON HEIGHTS — Two former leaders in Minnesota’s Independence Party have endorsed Republican candidate Mike McFadden in his bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Al Franken.

Former Independence Party Chairman Jack Uldrich and former House candidate David Dillon both threw their support behind McFadden on Monday.

Uldrich says McFadden has the integrity to work with Republicans and Democrats to do what’s right for Minnesota residents. And Dillon praises the Republican challenger as someone whose focus on fiscal issues will help get the economy going again.

Even though Uldrich and Dillon are Independents, they endorsed McFadden over Independent Party candidate Steve Carlson. Carlson, a self-proclaimed tea party member, won a surprise victory in the party’s primary last month.

McFadden welcomed the endorsements, saying they demonstrated his ability to be a bipartisan problem solver.