Changes

|party=[[Republican]]

|party=[[Republican]]

|spouse=Laurie Coleman

|spouse=Laurie Coleman

|religion=Judaism

|religion=[[Judaism]]

|offices=

|offices=

{{Officeholder/senator

{{Officeholder/senator

}}

}}

'''Norman "Norm" Coleman, Jr.''', born August 17, 1949 (age {{age|1949|8|17}}), is the former United States Senator from [[Minnesota]] and a member of the [[Republican Party]].

'''Norman Coleman, Jr.''', known as '''Norm Coleman''' (August 17, 1949 (age {{age|1949|8|17}}), is the former [[United States Senator]] from [[Minnesota]] and a member of the [[Republican Party]] in a heavily [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] state.

==Early Life==

==Early life==

Coleman was born and raised in a [[Jewish]] family in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]]. He is married to actress and model Laurie Coleman. Coleman is a graduate of James Madison High School in Brooklyn, New York and [[Hofstra University]] on Long Island.

Coleman was born and raised in a [[Jewish]] family in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]]. He is married to actress and model Laurie Coleman. Coleman is a graduate of James Madison High School in Brooklyn, New York and [[Hofstra University]] on Long Island.

==Political career==  

==Political career==

Coleman's politics have changed dramatically throughout his political career. In college, he was a [[liberal]] [[Democrat]] and protested against the [[Vietnam War]]. He ran for student senate and once wrote in his school newspaper "these [[conservative]] kids don't f#ck or get high like we do." In 1993 he was elected mayor of Saint Paul as a member of the Minnesota [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL). In 1996, Mayor Coleman made a major change. Saying that he was frustrated that the Democratic party he had been a part of from his youth had assumed the role of defenders of the status quo, he switched to the Republican party because he felt it held the best opportunity to bring about job growth, quality education and greater public safety. In 1997, he was reelected mayor as a Republican, with 59 percent of the vote. In 1998 he ran for Governor of Minnesota and lost to former professional wrestler [[Jesse Ventura]]. In 2002 Coleman was elected to the United States Senate, defeating former Vice President [[Walter Mondale]].

Coleman's politics have changed dramatically throughout his political career. In college, he was a [[liberal]] [[Democrat]] and protested against the [[Vietnam War]]. He ran for student senate and once wrote in his school newspaper "these [[conservative]] kids don't f#ck or get high like we do." In 1993 he was elected mayor of Saint Paul as a member of the Minnesota [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL). In 1996, Mayor Coleman made a major change. Saying that he was frustrated that the Democratic party he had been a part of from his youth had assumed the role of defenders of the status quo, he switched to the Republican party because he felt it held the best opportunity to bring about job growth, quality education and greater public safety. In 1997, he was reelected mayor as a Republican, with 59 percent of the vote. In 1998 he ran for Governor of Minnesota and lost to former professional wrestler [[Jesse Ventura]]. In 2002 Coleman was elected to the United States Senate, defeating former Vice President [[Walter Mondale]].

==United States Senate==  

==United States Senate==

Coleman was a member of four Senate committees including the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In 2004 he ran for chairman of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]] (N.R.S.C.) but was defeated by [[North Carolina]] Senator [[Elizabeth Dole]] by one vote. Senator Coleman calls himself pro-life and has voted against embryonic stem cell research. Coleman opposes [[gay]] marriages and civil unions. He opposed President [[George W. Bush]]'s troop increase in [[Iraq]] in January of 2007.

Coleman was a member of four Senate committees including the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In 2004 he ran for chairman of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]] (N.R.S.C.) but was defeated by [[North Carolina]] Senator [[Elizabeth Dole]] by one vote. Senator Coleman calls himself pro-life and has voted against embryonic stem cell research. Coleman opposes [[gay]] marriages and civil unions. He opposed President [[George W. Bush]]'s troop increase in [[Iraq]] in January 2007.

== 2008 Senate re-election results ==  

== 2008 Senate re-election results ==

Senator Coleman ran for reelection in 2008.  His opponents were former U.S. Senator [[Dean Barkley]] of the [[Independence Party]], and the [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL) candidate [[Al Franken]].

Senator Coleman ran for reelection in 2008.  His opponents were former U.S. Senator [[Dean Barkley]] of the [[Independence Party]], and the [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL) candidate [[Al Franken]].

After a recount, Senator Norm Coleman lost the election to Al Franken by 225 votes. Dean Barkley garnered 437,505 votes, while Senator Coleman garnered 1,212,206 votes, and Al Franken garnered 1,212,431 votes.<ref>[http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20081104/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&R=all&P=A&Races='' Minnesota Secretary of State statewide election results]</ref> Norm Coleman's campaign filed multiple law suits to prevent Franken from taking office.  Finally at the end of June 2009, the state supreme court ruled unanimously against Coleman's last appeal, and he conceded to Democrat [[Al Franken]].

After a recount, Senator Norm Coleman lost the election to Al Franken by 225 votes. Dean Barkley garnered 437,505 votes, while Senator Coleman garnered 1,212,206 votes, and Al Franken garnered 1,212,431 votes.<ref>[http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20081104/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&R=all&P=A&Races='' Minnesota Secretary of State statewide election results]</ref> Norm Coleman's campaign filed multiple lawsuits to prevent Franken from taking office.  Finally at the end of June 2009, the state supreme court ruled unanimously against Coleman's last appeal, and he conceded to Democrat [[Al Franken]].

== References ==

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://coleman.senate.gov/ Official Site]

*[http://coleman.senate.gov/ Official Site]

*[http://ontheissues.org/Senate/Norm_Coleman.htm Coleman On the Issues]

*[http://ontheissues.org/Senate/Norm_Coleman.htm Coleman On the Issues]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coleman Jr, Norman}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coleman Jr, Norman}}

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]

[[Category:Republican Party]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Former Democrats]]

[[Category:110th United States Congress]]

[[Category:110th United States Congress]]

[[Category:Minnesota]]

[[Category:Minnesota]]