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: AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

BREAKING: Minnesota Supreme Court Rules Franken Winner in Senate Race

By Seth Michaels

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UPDATE 4:41 p.m.: Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has announced he will certify the election.

UPDATE 4:02 p.m.: Former Sen. Norm Coleman has conceded. Al Franken will be the next senator from Minnesota.

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The Minnesota Supreme Court, after nearly eight months of counting and appeals, has ruled that Al Franken won the election to be Minnesota’s next U.S. senator.

Franken was endorsed by the AFL-CIO last year and union members worked hard on his behalf.

In the ruling, available here, the five state Supreme Court justices unanimously agreed:

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. 32 Stat. § 204C.40 (2008) to receive the certificate of election as United States Senator from the State of Minnesota.

UPDATE: Here’s what AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney had to say about this important decision:

America’s workers congratulate Al Franken?and the people of Minnesota who have gone 226 days without a second Senator?for their unanimous victory today in the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Working families are facing many challenges including a tough economy, lack of health care coverage and an out of balance economic system where workers do not have a voice at their job. With these colossal issues at stake it is essential that Minnesotans have both their Senators to represent them and we urge Governor Pawlenty to immediately sign the election certificate so Franken can get to work.

The seating of Senator Franken is also a crucial step towards passing the Employee Free Choice Act that will allow workers to have a voice at work, lift their standard of living and build stronger communities as well as stronger families. We urge the Senate to move forward swiftly on this crucial piece of legislation as well as health care reform, financial re-regulation and all the crucial issues facing working families.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on June 30, 2009 (boomark / email).