1 Jul 2009

Minnesota court rules Democrat won US Senate seat

8:02 am on 1 July 2009

The Minnesota Supreme Court has declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of a tight US Senate race over Republican Norm Coleman.

Under state law, the court's decision on Tuesday gives Mr Franken the right to occupy the seat.

Mr Coleman who was seeking a second term, has publicly said he is unlikely to appeal the state court's decision to the federal courts.

If the decision holds, Democrats will control 60 of the 100 seats in the Senate - enough to overcome Republican procedural roadblocks to President Barack Obama's agenda.

Democrats hold a solid majority in the House of Representatives.

Mr Coleman had a thin lead after the election on 4 November over Mr Franken, who is a well known satirist and a former writer and actor for the Saturday Night Live television show.

The close vote triggered an automatic recount of the 2.4 million ballots cast for the two men, and Mr Franken had a lead of 225 votes. That result was challenged by Mr Coleman.

However, a tally by a judicial panel expanded Mr Franken's lead to 312 votes.