(CNN) - Minnesota's Supreme Court has dismissed former Sen. Norm Coleman's challenge to the state's November election results and declared Democratic challenger Al Franken the winner.
The unanimous opinion ruled that Franken "received the highest number of votes legally cast" and is entitled "to receive the certificate of election as United States senator from the state of Minnesota."
The former "Saturday Night Live" writer and performer had declared victory in the disputed race after a recount ended in January, but Coleman - a Republican who had been seeking a second six-year term - went to court to challenge those results.
Coleman still could attempt to take the challenge to federal courts, but Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, told CNN on Sunday that he would sign Franken's election certificate if the Supreme Court ordered it.
Updated: 2:25 p.m.
From CNN Politics
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Norm Coleman has sworn to appeal to the (Federal) Supreme Court. He has been backed by key Republicans and even to an extent the RNC. He and the entire conservative party risk losing even more if he does not continue his fight.
Governor Tim Pawlenty has said he will only sign a certificate if he is ordered by the (state) Supreme Court. The decision handed down contains no direct word by word order. So, we know he will not sign off on this until the U.S. Supreme Court hears the case.
And if all that fails, several key Republican Senators have sworn they will do all the obstruction they can to never see Franken seated.
This will not be over for several more months.
AWESOME! Nice Goin Al!
See – you are good enough, you ARE smart enough, and gosh darn it,....people like you!!
Make the people of Minnesota proud!!
Coleman sure wants this seat badly. Could it be that some unknown reward awaits any new Republican Senator..
Congrats, Senator Franken.
I imagine most people in Minnesota are pretty fed up with all the legal nonsense and are ready to move on. Let's hope they get the chance to do just that.
I actually look forward to the Stewart Smalley monkey make a fool of himself in the Senate. Between him, Pelossi, Reed, and the other Demotards 2010 and 2012 will see a reversal in their fortunes. Come on Sniffit and the other lib monkeys, start your hateful chattering – I feed on it....
Welcome, Senator Franken.
Gov. Pawlenty – sign this certificate and give Minnesota the 2 senators it deserves! Enough is enough.
Norm – man up! You lost. Show some class and end this.
Good riddance to Norm.
Finally, the drama is over and Minnesota tax payers will have someone to work for them, Al Franken. Not Coleman, who couldn't even stand an debate with George Galloway.
Of course, you'd never know that Franken won because CNN is busy showing yet another Michael Jackson story. I think they are now a subsidiary of Entertainment Tonight
Congratulations Al Franken and Democrats!!!
2012 presidential hopeful Pawlenty has quite the decision, sign the certificate or not.
It's not only in Iran that the vote of the people doesn't matter. This garbage has lasted far too long. Franken was elected by the people and the Ayatollah of Minnesota has tried to change that vote.
Finally. This has gone on too long. I hope he gets seated immediately.
Al, thanks for your patience and conducting yourself with dignity during this bizarre episode.
Good luck, pal.
those sore loser republican better give up now.
Finally!
The MN supreme court wants to go home for the summer.... they are done with Coleman.
Finally, the drama is over and Minnesota tax payers will have someone to work for them, Al Franken. Not Coleman, who couldn't even stand a debate with George Galloway.
Finally,,,the way forward is here.
HAHAHA..!!!!
CNN only allows 8 posts about Obama's leadership....CENSORSHIP!
And yet, Sanford's numbers are still better than Obama's! Keep trying CNN, I'm sure that if you cannot fully discredit any conservative through smut smearing, Huffington will help!
Now, this really means that it was a 3-2 decision that completely rebuked Franken's legal team, right?
about time. 1/12th of the Minnesota senatorial term is already over!
Coleman has every insentive to now try and run this through the federal courts, because if he can get to the US Supreme Court, you bet your you know what that thanks to the Bush packed, neo-cons sitting there, it would rule in his favor, alla Gore v Bush...
Congress is full of comedians these days; one more will hardly be noticed.
MN needs two senators, and we all know that Coleman won't be one of them.