July 2, 2009
Minnesota's 2008 Senate race will be remembered as the state's most hard-fought and most expensive. From the beginning, everyone seemed to agree that the race would be close. But no one predicted it would be one of the closest in history, or that it would take eight months to finally determine the winner.
The Campaign
Minnesota's 2008 Senate race began taking shape years before Al Franken and Norm Coleman started bombarding the state with tens of millions of dollars of TV ads.
The Election
Minnesotans flocked to the polls on Election Day. By that night it was apparent the outcome was too close to call -- and would be for some time.
The Recount Trial
Franken was ahead after the recount, but Coleman sued to challenge the outcome. That case eventually wound up before the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Timeline
Taken together, Minnesota's U.S. Senate race, recount and trial have spanned more than two years. Minnesota Public Radio News chronicled the events from Democrat Al Franken's first announcement to Republican Norm Coleman's concession.
Video: Al Franken declares victory
Sen.-elect Al Franken held a press conference outside his home after the Supreme Court ruled he won the U.S. Senate race.
Video: Norm Coleman concedes
Norm Coleman conceded the race to Al Franken just hours after the state Supreme Court's ruling.
Credits
Reporter: Mark ZdechlikBroadcast editor: Mike Mulcahy
Online editor: Melanie Sommer
Researcher: Betsy Cole
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