Democrat Al Franken finally became Minnesota’s second Senator Tuesday, after an eight-month see-saw with opponent Norm Coleman.
Franken’s victory pulls the Senate majority up to 60 seats—the widest margin since 1979 when Jimmy Carter was president and the last time the Senate was filibuster-proof.
“The way I see it, I’m not going to Washington to be the 60th Democratic senator,” Franken said in a press conference after the decision. “I’m going to Washington to be the second senator from the state of Minnesota.”
Franken is expected to take up portfolios on health care, clean energy, and industry. He is well-known for his comedic role in “Saturday Night Live” and his needling of conservatives on his radio show and in a series of books.
The Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously rejected Republican Coleman’s challenge that the recount of the Nov. 4 election had been unfair.
Coleman won on election night—beating Franken by 206 votes, a margin narrow enough to call for a recount.
The January recount ended with Franken leading by 312 votes.
“We are so thrilled we can finally celebrate this victory and I’m so excited to finally be able to get to work for the people of Minnesota,” Franken said. “We have a lot of work to do in Washington, but that’s why I signed up for the job in the first place.”
Coleman held a press conference outside his house in Minnesota and was gracious in defeat. “The Supreme Court of Minnesota has spoken,” he said. “I respect its decision and I will abide by its result. It’s time for Minnesotans to come together under the leaders it has chosen and move forward.”
“I join all Minnesotans in congratulating our newest United States Senator, Al Franken.”
Ben Grinberg, a 24-year-old public relations worker in Eden Prairie, said it was a good result.
“It seems they went through a process of making sure it was fair,” he said. “There’s no need to keep it going. I think that he will try to make a mark, leave some mark of him being a Senator and do things his party will want him to do.”
Thirty-five-year-old Savage resident and computer programmer, Peter, was glad the race had finally ended. “It was costing Minnesota residents too much money. I don’t think he'll do any worse than Norm Coleman.”
Special Education Assistant for a Minneapolis Public School, Akiko Tsutsui, said she hopes Franken will work well with incumbent Senator Klobucher.
“Klobucher’s office has been working very hard [for the past eight months for Minnesota residents].”
It is expected that Franken will be sworn in after July 4.
Franken’s victory pulls the Senate majority up to 60 seats—the widest margin since 1979 when Jimmy Carter was president and the last time the Senate was filibuster-proof.
“The way I see it, I’m not going to Washington to be the 60th Democratic senator,” Franken said in a press conference after the decision. “I’m going to Washington to be the second senator from the state of Minnesota.”
Franken is expected to take up portfolios on health care, clean energy, and industry. He is well-known for his comedic role in “Saturday Night Live” and his needling of conservatives on his radio show and in a series of books.
The Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously rejected Republican Coleman’s challenge that the recount of the Nov. 4 election had been unfair.
Coleman won on election night—beating Franken by 206 votes, a margin narrow enough to call for a recount.
The January recount ended with Franken leading by 312 votes.
“We are so thrilled we can finally celebrate this victory and I’m so excited to finally be able to get to work for the people of Minnesota,” Franken said. “We have a lot of work to do in Washington, but that’s why I signed up for the job in the first place.”
Coleman held a press conference outside his house in Minnesota and was gracious in defeat. “The Supreme Court of Minnesota has spoken,” he said. “I respect its decision and I will abide by its result. It’s time for Minnesotans to come together under the leaders it has chosen and move forward.”
“I join all Minnesotans in congratulating our newest United States Senator, Al Franken.”
Ben Grinberg, a 24-year-old public relations worker in Eden Prairie, said it was a good result.
“It seems they went through a process of making sure it was fair,” he said. “There’s no need to keep it going. I think that he will try to make a mark, leave some mark of him being a Senator and do things his party will want him to do.”
Thirty-five-year-old Savage resident and computer programmer, Peter, was glad the race had finally ended. “It was costing Minnesota residents too much money. I don’t think he'll do any worse than Norm Coleman.”
Special Education Assistant for a Minneapolis Public School, Akiko Tsutsui, said she hopes Franken will work well with incumbent Senator Klobucher.
“Klobucher’s office has been working very hard [for the past eight months for Minnesota residents].”
It is expected that Franken will be sworn in after July 4.
