"For all of the foregoing reasons, we affirm the decision of the trial court that Al Franken received the highest number of votes legally cast and is entitled under Minn. Stat. § 204C.40 (2008) to receive the certificate of election as United States Senator from the State of Minnesota."

Via the Star Tribune;

"Al Franken received the highest number of votes legally cast and is entitled [under Minnesota law] to receive the certificate of election as United States Senator from the State of Minnesota," the court wrote.

In upholding a lower court ruling in April, the justices said Coleman had "not shown that the trial court's findings of fact are clearly erroneous or that the court committed an error of law or abused its discretion."

UPDATE (Cloe): Former Senator Norm Coleman concedes.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:

"Republican Norm Coleman ended his bruising eight-month court fight over Minnesota's U.S. Senate seat this afternoon, conceding to Democrat Al Franken after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in Franken's favor.

"Two hours after the decision was released, Coleman said he would 'abide by the results.

"'Further litigation damages the unity of our state," he said during a news conference held at his St. Paul home. "The future today is that we have a new United States senator."

UPDATE 2: President Obama remarks;

"I look forward to working with Senator-Elect Franken to build a new foundation for growth and prosperity by lowering health care costs and investing in the kind of clean energy jobs and industries that will help America lead in the 21st century.”

A few things to keep in mind, from our friends in Minnesota, as we wait for the final word:

– Al Franken won more votes on Election Day. He won the recount, and he won the election contest. Every single one of Coleman's claims to the contrary was denied "with prejudice" by the three judge panel last month. In fact, the ruling was so harsh that the court demanded that Coleman pay all court costs and reimburse Al Franken for some attorneys' fees.

– Not a single election law expert predicts a win for Coleman in the Minnesota Supreme Court. When asked by the press to provide one who believes they'll prevail, the Coleman campaign was unable to do so.

– Norm Coleman is trying to rewrite Minnesota election law after the election. His team is arguing that legal votes should be tossed out and illegal votes that favor him should be counted.

– The Supreme Court proceeding is the last step in a long, drawn out process. The courts have made clear that once Coleman's state appeals have run out, the election can be certified by Governor Pawlenty and Secretary of State Ritchie, and Al Franken should be seated.

On May 20, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine wrote a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty urging him to call on Norm Coleman to drop his bid for the Minnesota Senate seat so that Minnesotans would be given “their full representation in Congress.” Short of that, Kaine asked Pawlenty to "commit to signing an election certificate for the rightful winner as soon as the Minnesota state Supreme Court issues a ruling in this case." It remains to be seen whether Pawlenty will use his power and influence to end this saga, or if he will continue to allow Colman to put his own political ambition ahead of Minnesota's right to full representation in the Senate. If Colman takes this process into the federal courts - after losing in the state Supreme Court, as expected - it would be for no other reason than to deny the seating of another Democratic senator.

update (jonah)
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine issued the following statement on the Minnesota Senate race following today's Supreme Court hearing.

“Today’s Minnesota Supreme Court hearing hopefully marks the end of the line for Norm Coleman and his extensive legal battle that has left Minnesota without proper representation in Congress. Nearly seven months after Election Day, the fact remains that Coleman has lost at every turn – he lost the recount, he lost his lawsuit to overturn the results of that recount, and we expect Norm Coleman to lose in the Minnesota Supreme Court.

"Minnesotans realize that there is too much work to be done for their state and for the nation to allow divisive political tactics like Norm Coleman’s legal battles to continue. The people of Minnesota deserve better, and I reiterate my call on Governor Tim Pawlenty to certify the result and bring an end to this should the Minnesota Supreme Court make a definitive ruling."

Please see below for a copy of the Chairman’s letter:

May 19, 2009 Governor Tim Pawlenty 130 State Capitol 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55155

Dear Governor Pawlenty:

It has now been six months since Minnesota voters went to the polls to cast their ballots in a hard fought election for the United States Senate. No one will deny that the race was incredibly close - but after an official recount, an extensive legal process and a clear and definitive ruling by the three judge panel, it is all but indisputable that Democrat Al Franken won and will be the next Senator from Minnesota.

The voters of Minnesota elected Al Franken, and during every step in the legal process that judgment has been confirmed. By continuing to fight this losing battle - despite the fact that two-thirds of Minnesotans believe its time for him to concede - Norm Coleman is putting his own political ambition ahead of the voters choice and Minnesota's right to full representation in the Senate.

Last month, there was another hard fought race in New York's 20th Congressional district. But once Republican Jim Tedisco realized the numbers were not going his way, he appropriately conceded. He congratulated his opponent Scott Murphy and moved on. Now that the outcome of the election in Minnesota is abundantly clear: its time for Norm Coleman to follow Jim Tedisco's example. I urge you to use your influence to bring this process to an end by asking Norm Coleman to allow his neighbors and yours, their full representation in Congress.

However, if Mr. Coleman refuses to concede and this case is heard and decided by the Minnesota State Supreme Court, I urge you to commit to signing an election certificate for the rightful winner as soon as the Court issues a ruling in this case. To allow this to process to continue into the federal courts for no other reason than to deny for as long as possible the seating of another Democratic Senator would make what has been a bad situation for Minnesotans even worse. I urge you to do everything within your power and influence to bring this process to an end.

Sincerely,

Tim Kaine
Chairman Democratic National Committee

A new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll has found that 64 percent of those responding believe Coleman, the Republican, should accept the recount trial court's April 13 verdict that Democrat Franken won the race by 312 votes.

Only 28 percent consider last week's appeal by Coleman to the Minnesota Supreme Court "appropriate."

Second, the DNC reached out to Minnesotans yesterday and offered them a flyer they could download and display in their community to show their support for Al Franken. The flyer echos what the majority of Minnesotans are saying "Concede Norm. Al Won." If you have hung up your flyer or seen them in your neighborhood send us a digital photo.

Over five months after the election, a three-judge panel has declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of the Minnesota U.S. Senate race.

The judges--Hennepin County's Denise Reilly, Pennington County's Kurt Marben and Stearns County's Elizabeth Hayden--issued their final ruling late Monday, stating "Franken received the highest number of lawfully cast ballots in the Nov. 4, 2008 general election."

They also determined that Franken is entitled to receive the certificate of election.

Once again another court ruling, following the election night totals, shows Al Franken as the recipients of the most votes in the Senate race. Former Senator Coleman's lawyer have indicated they will now appeal this decision to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

update: DNC Chairman Tim Kaine has released a statement on the court's declaration of Franken as the winner of the Senate race;

“Enough is enough,” said Kaine. “It is time for Norm Coleman to concede and for Al Franken to be sworn in as the next U.S. Senator from Minnesota. The voters of Minnesota months ago elected Al Franken to the Senate – and during every step in the legal process that judgment has been confirmed. Norm Coleman’s own legal challenge resulted in more votes for Al Franken and now a three judge panel has ruled Al Franken the winner. Former Senator Coleman’s insistence on continuing his quixotic quest for this seat at best shows that he is putting his own political ambition ahead of the people and worst that he is complicit in an effort by national Republicans to deny Al Franken this seat for as long as possible so there is one less Democratic vote for President Obama’s agenda for change.

Franken captured 198 of the ballots, while Coleman took 111. The ballots added 87 votes to Franken’s recount lead, enlarging his margin over Coleman to 312.

The result makes it even more likely that, barring an unforeseen circumstance, Franken will prevail in the election lawsuit that Coleman filed in January to contest the Democrat's 225-vote recount lead. The three-judge panel presiding over the case has not said when it will issue a final decision.

Norm Coleman's lawyers all but conceded defeat Tuesday and promised to appeal after a panel of three judges ordered no more than 400 new absentee ballots opened and counted, far fewer than the Republican had sought to overcome the lead held by DFLer Al Franken.

Ballots deemed valid out of this group will be opened and counted on April 7.

In Minnesota, the state canvassing board certified Democrat Al Franken as the winner of the Senate recount against former Senator Norm Coleman.

The Minnesota State Canvassing Board confirmed on Monday that Al Franken has won his Senate election, ending a weeks-long recount process that started with the Democratic challenger facing a roughly 215-vote deficit.

The final tally left Franken with 1,212,431 votes to Sen. Norm Coleman's 1,212,206 votes, a 0.0077 percent margin of victory.

With the results finalized, the Franken for Senate campaign issued a statement on their victory:

This victory is incredibly humbling – not just because it was so narrow, but because of the tremendous responsibility it gives me on behalf of the people of Minnesota.

While the recount process played out, the challenges facing our state and our nation have only grown. With tensions in the Middle East reaching the boiling point, our economy facing its worst crisis since the 1930s, and Minnesota’s middle class families being squeezed harder than ever, it’s clear that we have a lot of important work to do.

I want you all to know that I’m ready to go to Washington and get to work just as soon as possible. And I look forward to joining President-Elect Obama and Senator Klobuchar in getting our country moving in the right direction again.

Read the full statement here.

Fargo, ND
GRAND FORKS VOTE FOR CHANGE EARLY VOTE RALLY
Fargo Civic Center Arena
207 4th St N
Fargo, ND

Event Time: 1:00 PM

US Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan, Congressman Earl Pomeroy, North Dakota Democratic Party Chairman Bob Strauss and gubernatorial candidate Tim Mathern will join Governor Dean at the rally.

* For more information, contact Michael Czin at CzinM@DNC.org.

St. Cloud, MN
ST. CLOUD VOTE FOR CHANGE GOTV RALLY WITH ELWYN TINKLENBERG
Campaign for Change Office
904 West St. Germain Street
St. Cloud, MN

Event Time: 5:00 PM

* For more information, contact Michael Czin at CzinM@DNC.org.

Minneapolis, MN
MINNESOTA VOTE FOR CHANGE GOTV CONCERT AND RALLY
Trocaderos Nightclub & Restaurant
107 3rd Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN

Doors Open: 7:00 PM
Program Begins: 8:00 PM

* For more information, contact Michael Czin at CzinM@DNC.org.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2

Seattle, WA
SEATTLE GOTV/CANVASS KICKOFF RALLY WITH GOV. GREGOIRE
2820 South Myrtle Street
Seattle, WA

Event Time: 11:15 AM

* For more information, contact Michael Czin at CzinM@DNC.org.

Fife, WA
PIERCE COUNTY GOTV/ CANVASS KICKOFF RALLY WITH GOV. GREGOIRE
ILWU Hall
1306 Alexander Avenue
Fife, WA

Event Time: 12:30 PM

* For more information, contact Michael Czin at CzinM@DNC.org.

Portland, OR
PORTLAND GET-OUT-THE-VOTE RALLY WITH SEN. RON WYDEN AND JEFF MERKLEY
Campaign for Change and Merkley Oregon Headquarters
3016 Division Street
Portland, OR

Event Time: 4:30 PM

* For more information, contact Michael Czin at CzinM@DNC.org.

Eugene, OR
EUGENE GET-OUT-THE-VOTE RALLY WITH SEN. RON WYDEN & JEFF MERKLEY
Campaign for Change Office
150 West Broadway
Eugene, OR 97401

Event Time: 7:30 PM

* For more information, contact Michael Czin at CzinM@DNC.org.

"Regardless of our party, regardless of our partisan inclinations, there is no interest more compelling than the interest in the well-being of the United States," Carlson said at a gathering of Obama supporters at the state Capitol.

Carlson added, "He has laid out for this nation a vision for a national purpose."

Carlson joins a growing list of a "Obamicans," as the Democratic presidential nominee likes to call them. Learn more about Republicans for Obama here.

If you have any questions or need any information, please feel free to contact me at LaVeraD@dnc.org.

In light of Hurricane Gustav and the ongoing situation along the Gulf Coast, the DNC announced that it has canceled the tomorrow morning's news conference at the DNC's More of the Same Media Center in St. Paul. We continue to keep our friends and families in the area in our thoughts and prayers.

Damien

Damien LaVera
Deputy Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
LaVeraD@dnc.org