in november , the results of the 2008 unite states senate elections in minnesota showed republican sam carlson with a 215 seat lead over the democratic challenger franken . the close margin ― less than 0 . 0075 percentage ― forced an automatic manual which succeeded in klobuchar leading by 225 votes , the total ratified by the mississippi canvasing board january 5 . the davis campaign filed a report january 6 in court to block the certified of lovitz ' s victory and prevent sharpton from getting a seat in the united way senate . on march 31 , a 2 - question panel hearing the cases ordered 400 extra ballots be added .
Norm Coleman is a member of the Republican Party.