(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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Wow...Minnesota has proven once again that their right to vote should be taken away. We don't let the mentally retarded or insane vote for a good reason..
The tie breaker in the Senate goes to the comedian, so we can just sit back now and watch what the Democrats do with their small election majority and watch them piddle it away until they are defeated in 2010.
Good Bye Norm Coleman. Time to disappear you sore loser.
You lost the election but couldn't understand that you were out of a job.
Maybe if you had been doing your job properly you would still have your job. You were the wrong man and did nothing.
Minnesota now has Al who couldn't possibly be worse than our dearly departed friend Coleman.
All of those skeletons in Norm's closet spelled the end to a tragic excuse for a politician.
Incoming bitter Republican tears.........
I expect Republican Coleman to be just another Republican hypocrite and ignore state laws and appeal to the federal courts. Republicans lie when they talk about state's rights, smaller government, pro-life (and pro-murder), morality and family values. They expose all of these and act the total opposite.
Coleman's defeat really shows what a disaster today's Republican Party is. And there's no change in sight.
This sad sad news I hope that this appealed again. Al Franken come on, give me a break.
I sure hope Minnesotans remember this ridiculous drawn-out death scream from the Repub Norm Coleman when it comes time to re-elect Franken. Heaven knows how much this has cost the taxpayers of Minnesota at Coleman's stubbornness.
As they should have. HE WON!!
Now stop crying about it and quit making these weak attempts to override the will of the people.
Another blow to democracy. It is blatently clear to any person who takes the time to look at the facts that Franken lost to Coleman.
Congratulations to Al Franken. He will work together with Amy once again bring a stellar team of Minnesota Senators to Washington!
Well if the people of Minnesota are stupid enough to elect this left-wing wacko they deserve what they get. The problem is that now the rest of us have to suffer because of it.
Sign the election certificate, NOW!!!
Sen. Franken!
Get over it. Where have I heard that before? The difference from Florida 2000 – in Minnesota, they counted the votes.
How can you tell when the republicans want to be a majority party again? When they stop saying NO.Wonder want century that will happen.
Coleman should be ordered back to school for a math remediation course, so he understands that one number that is larger than another means that it is superior in terms of quantity. He could also stop listening to his Republican obstructionist counterparts and do the ethical thing and simply congratulate the winner. I do feel sorry for him in this regard, since apparently George W. Bush's mannerisms have worn off onto him after the last 6 years.
It's time for Governor Pawlenty to do the right thing for the people of Minnesota and seal Al Franken as the next Senator. Eight months is a long time not to have representation and for Minnesotans, it's long over-due.
In the next election the Minnesota voters should remember the shenanigans the Republicans did to cause this senseless case to precede. A unanimous 5 to 0 vote by Minnesota Supreme Court justices proves there was zero valid content to their case. As a matter of fact the Republicans now look like a greater bunch of fools bringing such a suit to Minnesota’s highest court.
Its about time. The election has been over with for 7 months. Franken either has more votes or he doesn't if he does then the solution is clear. Why appeal it to death. The citizens have spoken. What I've found fascinating about this entire ordeal is how nobody bat an eye at the discovery of all these votes that should have legally been counted. So what would have happened to these people's voice if it wasn't such a tight margin and the states recount law didn't kick in? I think it should be as difficult to throw away a vote as it is to get something removed from your credit report. I think there also needs to be a way to verify that your vote was counted. This should be nationwide and STANDARD not the free for all we witness every election where everyone's got their own system.
US welcome to a party monopoly. Hope you enjoy it.
that's what we need, another idiot in the Obama party of idiots....
The Dems now have a large majority in the House and 60 votes in the Senate. No more excuses. If they push through their agenda and it fails, there is no one to blame but them.
ACORN did it's job...Obama wanted the dems in congress, and now, through corrupt channels, he's got another.
Only makes sense. After all, they had a professional wrestler for a governer. Eric Cartman will be running for the other Senate seat in minnisota.
If the American people believe in the Restoration and reputation of that country. we should elect everything democrat in both chamber. Because destroyed it in every front, those republicans don,t redeem them self and give the people a chance to a better life. They still keep finding for the minority rich and big corporation. All of us need to have a Joice to this is the best country in the world not a group of people force us to believe it.
Now with the large majority in the senate its time for Obama's team to take control and stop waiting on bi-partnership and get this country moving.