Changes

{{Officeholder/senator

{{Officeholder/senator

|state=Minnesota

|state=Minnesota

|terms=July 7, 2009 – Present

|terms=July 7, 2009 – January 2, 2018

|preceded=[[Norm Coleman]]

|preceded=[[Norm Coleman]]

|former=n

|former=y

|succeeded=

|succeeded=[[Tina Smith]]

}}

}}

}}

}}

'''Alan Stuart "Al" Franken''' (born May 21, 1951), a [[liberal]] [[Democrat]] and former satirist and comedian known for his attacks against [[Republican]]s and [[conservatives]], is the junior U.S. Senator from [[Minnesota]]. He was declared the winner after purportedly obtaining a slim majority of the votes. The Minnesota Supreme Court rejected the last legal challenges from his opponent, [[Norm Coleman]], who conceded.  

'''Alan Stuart "Al" Franken''' (born May 21, 1951), a [[liberal]] [[Democrat]] and former satirist and comedian known for his attacks against [[Republican]]s and [[conservatives]], was the junior U.S. Senator from [[Minnesota]] from 2009 until 2018. He was declared the winner of the 2008 general election after purportedly obtaining a slim majority of the votes. The Minnesota Supreme Court rejected the last legal challenges from his opponent, [[Norm Coleman]], who conceded.  

After all the court appeals the Republican governor of Minnesota, [[Tim Pawlenty]], signed the certificate of election for Franken and he took office July 6, 2009, for a six-year term.  Franken's win gave Democrats a 58-40-2 margin in the Senate, enough to shut off filibusters if the 58, along with two Independents who caucus with the Democrats, hang together.

After all the court appeals the Republican governor of Minnesota, [[Tim Pawlenty]], signed the certificate of election for Franken and he took office July 6, 2009, for a six-year term.  Franken's win gave Democrats a 58-40-2 margin in the Senate, enough to shut off filibusters if the 58, along with two Independents who caucus with the Democrats, hang together.

*Scarry, Eddie (November 17, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/major-newspapers-hold-fire-on-al-franken-in-contrast-to-roy-moore/article/2641022 Major newspapers hold fire on Al Franken, in contrast to Roy Moore]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved November 17, 2017.

*Scarry, Eddie (November 17, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/major-newspapers-hold-fire-on-al-franken-in-contrast-to-roy-moore/article/2641022 Major newspapers hold fire on Al Franken, in contrast to Roy Moore]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved November 17, 2017.

*Mason, Ian (November 17, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/11/17/gop-leaders-who-threw-fellow-republican-moore-to-the-wolves-stay-silent-on-dem-franken/ GOP Leaders Who Threw Fellow Republican Moore to the Wolves Stay Silent on Dem Franken]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 17, 2017.</ref> Franken eventually was forced to announce his resignation "in the coming weeks,"<ref>Moran, Sean (December 7, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/sen-al-franken-will-resign-in-the-coming-weeks/ Sen. Al Franken Will Resign ‘in the Coming Weeks’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> although he cast himself as a victim of his accusers.<ref>Nolte, John (December 7, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/disgraced-sen-al-franken-lying-left-wing-women-forced-resign/ Defiant Al Franken Blames Lying Women for His Resignation]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> He used his resignation speech to attack Moore and U.S. President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (December 7, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/al-franken-falls-sword-party-can-attack-donald-trump/ Al Franken Falls on His Sword So the Party Can Attack Donald Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> Many of Franken's staffers cried at his resignation speech, and almost every Senator present at his resignation speech – almost all Democrats – embraced him afterward.<ref>Weaver, Al (December 7, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ready-democratic-senators-and-staffers-shed-tears-during-al-frankens-resignation-speech/article/2642861 'Ready?': Democratic senators and staffers shed tears during Al Franken's resignation speech]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref>

*Mason, Ian (November 17, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/11/17/gop-leaders-who-threw-fellow-republican-moore-to-the-wolves-stay-silent-on-dem-franken/ GOP Leaders Who Threw Fellow Republican Moore to the Wolves Stay Silent on Dem Franken]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 17, 2017.</ref> Franken eventually was forced to announce his resignation "in the coming weeks,"<ref>Moran, Sean (December 7, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/sen-al-franken-will-resign-in-the-coming-weeks/ Sen. Al Franken Will Resign ‘in the Coming Weeks’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> although he cast himself as a victim of his accusers.<ref>Nolte, John (December 7, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/disgraced-sen-al-franken-lying-left-wing-women-forced-resign/ Defiant Al Franken Blames Lying Women for His Resignation]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> He used his resignation speech to attack Moore and U.S. President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (December 7, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/al-franken-falls-sword-party-can-attack-donald-trump/ Al Franken Falls on His Sword So the Party Can Attack Donald Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> Many of Franken's staffers cried at his resignation speech, and almost every Senator present at his resignation speech – almost all Democrats – embraced him afterward.<ref>Weaver, Al (December 7, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ready-democratic-senators-and-staffers-shed-tears-during-al-frankens-resignation-speech/article/2642861 'Ready?': Democratic senators and staffers shed tears during Al Franken's resignation speech]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref>

== Books by Franken ==

== Books by Franken ==