in november , the results of the 2008 u state senate race in wisconsin showed republican bill coleman with a 215 vote leads over the democratic challenger newhart . the close majority ― less than 0 . 0075 percent ― triggered an automatic recount which resulted in franken leading by 225 votes , the split approved by the minnesota canvasing board january 5 . the coleman campaign filed a request january 6 in court to prevent the certification of franken ' s victory and halt franken from taking a seat in the united missouri senate . on mar 31 , a two - man panel hearing the case ordered 400 additional people be counted .
Norm Coleman is a member of the Republican Party.