(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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Now the Politburo, er, Senate, can ram home the administration's agenda. I'm ready. Invested in GLD, commodities and other metals (went to Cabela's to stock up).
Bring it on, comrades!
Will they try to bust down the doors like they did in Florida 2000? The party of non-cooperation.
RIP GOP!
Pawlenty indicated that he would abide by the decision of the State Supreme Court so, for better or worse, Franken will almost certainly be seated.
I almost forgot about this whole thing. Whew...thank god. Hopefully we can move forward now. Hopefully Coleman will conceed, but I doubt it.
Sanford should go NOT for having an affair, but he should resign for violating the trust of citizens in South Carolina and for being a hypocrite. Based on comments he made during the Clinton impeachment, Sanford should follow his own standard.
Well it is about time. I am sure that Norm and the Republicans will find a way to stall this even more. It took the state process long enough to get this decided.
The Republicnas should pack their bags and leave town!!!!!!!!!!!! when the economy starts to turn around,and it will in spite of Obama's policies, they will be seen as thye ones that almost caused the whole system to fail, and will find themselves reduced to an even more insignificant minority than they are now. And if Obama gets immigration reform done, there might as well not be a republican nominee for the 2012 presidential race!!!!!!!!
Dems congrats on stealing another election. Minnesota, you got Franken – a looser and a hack. Enjoy him.
Cheers!
Way to go Franken!
Bout time. Coleman needs to sit down and shut up now and let the people of Minnesota get on with it.
I hope he does not do that. He looks like such a poor loser. I wish he goes to get his teeth fixed, they are so fake looking. There are some amazing dentist out there, that can correct the horrible job that was done.
Does this mean the beginning of the end for the Coleman challenges, or merely the end of the beginning. I thought he was going to try and continue to challenge the outcome until the elections in 2010 to help avoid a filibuster-free Senate. What's next? US Supreme Court? World Court in The Hague? How much $ did this series of challenges cost the state of Minnesota? Goodness, 7 months and counting...
The courts has spoken! Time for the games to be over. Seat Him NOW!!
It should of been resolved. Good luck AL the the Rupubs are on you
It's about time now sign the certification today Tim
Pawlenty is a liar about a lot of things. He won't keep his word.
Norm Smiley goes to Washington
Yippee!!!! It's about time this race was called.
YESS!!! finally, the Republicans have to let go of that seat that they vowed to hold on or keep it vacant for as long as they could in order to push their political agenda of blocking major legislation, but no more. You are done! Just let it go, good bye.
The Governor must now sign the certification of election. Coleman must now seek an injunction to keep Franken from taking the seat, and file a suit in the Federal Court. Franken can appeal the injunction, which will take place long before there is a trial, if any. If Franken gets the injunction voided, he can claim the seat much like Burris did in Illinois.
I hope that with the certificate of election being issued, Coleman finally does the gentlemanly thing and accepts that he lost.
Hooray! About time. Norm, go away, do the right thing and concede.
So can I assume that it is over, or is this going to go before the US Supreme court......?
Seeing as how long it has been going on for already, I am gonna put my money on SCOTUS. Apparently Norm can't take a hint.....Or is this more Liberal Media schenanigans trying to fix another election? Don't get your hopes up Minnesota!
Coleman's actions here is just another black eye in the face of the GOP. Their house of cards based on lies and deception is crashing down all around them. Karma is a beautiful thing...
Yahoo, finally some good news in a rather dismal past week. Senator Al Franken, has a nice ring to it.