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== 2008 Senate re-election results ==  

== 2008 Senate re-election results ==  

Senator Coleman is 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 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 Norm Coleman won the election by 215 votes. Dean Barkley garnered 437,404 votes, while Senator Coleman garnered 1,211,590 votes, and Al Franken garnered 1,211,375 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>

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.

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>

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>