Coleman Concedes Election to Franken

Seven months after his battle to defend his U.S. Senate seat, Norm Coleman has conceded the election to his Democratic opponent. "I join all Minnesotans in congratulating our newest United States Senator, Al Franken," he said Tuesday.

In a unanimous decision, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of Franken and against Coleman in the ongoing dispute over the results of the November 2008 Senate election.

Although some Republicans had held out hope that Coleman would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, Coleman said he will not challenge the state court's ruling. "I respect its decision and I abide by its result," he said. "We have reached the point where further litigation damages the unity of our state."

Coleman thanked Minnesota's only sitting senator, Democrat Amy Klobuchar, for doing the work of two senators since January.

He said he had no regrets for the race he ran and the legal challenge he pursued. In the end, he said, "You do the best you can. I am at peace with that."

The addition of Franken to the Senate will give Democrats a filibuster-proof, 60-vote majority heading into a legislative session that will include big-ticket items such as health care reform, energy and climate change legislation, and possibly immigration reform.

Welcoming the 60th vote to Washington, President Obama released a statement saying, "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."