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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 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 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 has filed a law suit to prevent Franken from taking office.

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]].

 

Minnesota state law requires an automatic recount if the the margin of victory is less than 0.5%.<ref>Duchscher, Kevin Mike Kaszuba and Mark Brunswick (November 18, 2008) [http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/34607244.html Canvassing Board to meet at 1 p.m. to review results] StarTribune</ref>

== References ==

== References ==