Some eight months after the November 2008 election, the Minnesota Supreme Court declares Democrat Al Franken the winner of the state’s fiercely contested U.S. Senate election. The unanimous decision clears the way for Franken to be seated.
Politico notes Republican challenger Norm Coleman still has the option to "seek a review from the U.S. Supreme Court or file a whole new case in U.S. District Court." Coleman apparently "accepted the loss in a press conference shortly after the decision was announced", the Huffington Post reports.
Franken becomes the 60th Democrat in the U.S. Senate. With Franken and the usual support of two independents, Democrats should have enough votes to overcome Republican filibusters.
Since the Democrats have their "60 votes" now, will we get movement on hate crimes, ENDA and some other gay rights legislation? Or will still afraid that "Democrats" like Nelson, Lincoln, and Bayh will support GOP filibusters? UPDATE: Coleman Concedes: "We have a new United States Senator."
