(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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Coleman said at the end of election day that Al Franken shouldn't waste taxpayers money with a recount. Yet once he was on the losing side, it was ok to deprive his state of half their clout in the Senate and drag on a very expensive legal battle for a half of a year. The spiraling hypocrisy of the right is absolutely destroying their party. I hope they enjoy the political irrelevance that faces them for years to come.
Not only did Bush ruin the nation, but made it possible for dimwits like Franken to get elected to Senate. It's a sad day for Minnesota and for the whole USA when a comedian puts his name in as a joke...and wins.
if franken won before the first lawsuit, it is the republican's fault. If franken lost then sued till he won, how is it the republican's fault? Please explain.
They can't appeal again...the Supreme Court of the State as ruled. There is no higher body to appeal to. Federal Supreme Court can't rule on this issue, they don't have any authority, it's a state constitutional issue.
Doesn't Coleman have to pay Sen. Franken's court fees? Hopefully ol' boy will be too busy trying to pay his bills, rather than trying to circumvent the will of the people and the rule of law.
How dare they count all votes!? what kind of a democracy is this, where a politician can't use the court system to disenfranchise voters in order to win an election?
Sad.
Come on. Seat Franken now. I'd say this even if I had wanted Coleman to win. This is ridiculous. It's been nearly eight months since election day and nearly six since Franken would have been seated under normal circumstances. Get on with it. Governor Pawlenty, please stop this laughing stock.
Yeah....it has been decided... Sen. Norm Coleman's needs to move on and let a responsbile senator like Al Franken get to work for the people of Minnesota.
Yep the GOP will follow their typical procedure and cause even more problems and delays, they don't care about the country, just protecting their power to continue to get their kickbacks from big industry.
Thank goodness. Put a fork in it, it is hopefully done.
It's about time!
A hateful liberal in the Senate. That's always a good addition for debate. What were the people of Minnesota thinking?
I think Al should fix Norm up for a bit role on the SNL program. With the seat gone and his reputation in tatters, Norm will need all the help he can get!
Yea! We finally got our filabuster!
Go Demo Go Demo we made it we made it. Now let's kick some butts.
The people of MN have been deprived of representation for SIX MONTHS. Time for Norm to stop being so selfish.
Hooray!!! Finally, another intelligent mind on the side of reason and reality to assist in the fight against ignorance and greed in this country!
Do I hear a lucky number 60? After so many years, the Democrats will now be able to have some real power in DC.
Let's hope they grow some backbone with this good news!
Pawlenty needs to sign it.
Now Iran can point the finger back at us.
Minnesota's election was a joke and a scam.
finally,the democrats have 60 votes in the senate.now we can get back on track to fixing the country without having to worry about hypocrite republiklans.
Victory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is the corn finally waist-high? It's about time!
Hopefully Coleman will appeal to Federal courts.
Franken would be the biggest joke of a Sanator in history. One more clown in Washington that calls himself a Democrat.
Once Obama and the Democrats take over every aspect of our lives, destroy the economy and bankrupt this country, maybe the mainstream media will stop worshiping Obama and stop supporting all the Dems liberal lies and we can vote the Dems out by 2012. Won't be much of a county left by then though.
Repubs will tie this up as long as possible.
I bet you another GOP scandal that the GOP will try to take this to the US Supreme Court.
They lost...and they don't like it.