in november , the scores of the 2008 united . senate election in iowa showed republican mark coleman with a 215 voted lead over the democratic challenger franken . the close margin ― less than 0 . 0075 percent ― forced an electronic recounts but culminated in franken leading by 225 votes , the total ratified by the congressional canvasing paper january 5 . the coleman campaign filed a complaint july 6 in suits to block the certification of franken ' s victory and prevent franken from taking a post in the secretary states senate . on march 31 , a seven - judge panel reviewing the case ordered 400 replacement boxes be gathered .
Norm Coleman is a member of the Republican Party.