Democrat Al Franken defeated Republican Norm Coleman in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race and is entitled to the seat, the state Supreme Court ruled after an eight-month post-election battle.
Adding Franken, 58, to the Senate would give Democrats the 60 votes needed to overcome any Republican filibuster on legislation.
The seat has remained vacant since January.
Coleman conceded at a news conference in St. Paul. Previously, he had urged the justices to throw out a lower court decision that Franken, a former comedian on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” won the Nov. 4 election by 312 votes.
The Republican contended about 4,000 absentee ballots that were ruled invalid should be counted.
“Al Franken received the highest number of votes legally cast and is entitled” by law “to receive the certificate of election as United States senator from the state of Minnesota,” Minnesota’s highest court said in an unsigned opinion.
“Coleman introduced no evidence of foul play or misconduct” in one of his claims over missing ballots, the court said.
“We’re pleased,” said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada congratulated Franken in a statement that urged Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, to certify the Democrat as the winner so he can be sworn in.
“He should put politics aside, follow his state’s laws and finally sign the certificate that will bring this episode to an end,” Reid said. Pawlenty earlier had rejected Franken’s request to be certified the winner during Coleman’s legal challenge.
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