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The Minnesota Board of Canvassers certified Democrat Al
Franken as winner of the state’s Senate race, but incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman’s
(R) attorneys have vowed to challenge the decision. After two months of political and legal wrangling by both
campaigns since Election Day, the board officially recognized Franken as the
victor, marking the latest in a number of dramatic turns of events that have
characterized the state’s Senate election.
The board certified Franken’s 225-vote lead over Coleman,
moving the Democrat one step closer to unseating the first-term lawmaker. That
tally includes both the hand recount of votes throughout the state, as well as
hundreds of absentee ballots that had previously been disqualified for no
stated, legal reason.
Coleman’s campaign has said it will file an election
challenge within the seven days required by Minnesota law. The challenge is
expected to revolve around so-called “duplicate” ballots that Coleman alleges
were counted twice, as well as an additional 650 disqualified absentee ballots
that the incumbent’s campaign argues should have been counted. The Minnesota
Supreme Court has rejected lawsuits by Coleman on both issues, saying those
challenges are better suited to be handled by the Board of Canvassers.
“The Coleman campaign has consistently and continually
fought to have every validly cast vote counted, and for the integrity of
Minnesota’s election system, we will not stop now,” Coleman attorney Fritz Knaak
said earlier Monday. “The Minnesota Supreme Court has made sure that an
election contest will need to be filed quickly in order to ensure that an
accurate and valid recount can be achieved.”
Democratic leaders have said Franken should take his seat
in the Senate as soon as possible, even if the election challenge in Minnesota
will not have been resolved entirely.
“With the Minnesota recount complete, it is now clear
that Al Franken won the election,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign
Committee Chairman Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). “With the Senate set to begin
meeting on Tuesday to address the important issues facing the nation, it is
crucial that Minnesota’s seat not remain empty, and I hope this process will
resolve itself as soon as possible.”
Senate Republicans, led by incoming National Republican
Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman John Cornyn (R-Texas), have said they will
filibuster any attempt to seat Franken while litigation is pending.
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