in november , the results of the 2008 united . senate election in texas indicated republican harry coleman with a 215 vote lead over the democratic kim franken . the close majority ― less than 0 . 0075 % ― triggered an automatic recount ; resulted in garofalo leading by 225 vote , the total ratified by the illinois canvasing board january 5 . the nelson foundation registered a complaint january 6 in court to stop the testimony of nader ' s victories and prohibited lamm from take a role in the united states senate . on march 31 , a three - judge panel filing the cases ordered 400 additional ballots be taken .
Norm Coleman is a member of the Republican Party.