Nearly eight months after a heated Senatorial race in Minnesota, Republican Norm Coleman has finally conceded. Following a ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court, Al Franken will be certified as a US Senator. Franken, the Harvard-educated Deadhead who nearly presented the lifetime achievement award to Bob Weir and the group at the 2002 Jammys, originally appeared to have lost his election by 215 votes. However, following a hand recount, the state’s Canvassing Board named him the winner by 225 votes. As a result, Senate Democrats now appear to control 60 votes, which should allow them to withstand any Republican filibusters.
Franken’s early life as comedian, Saturday Night Live staffer and Dead fan is related in the recent memoir by his partner Tom Davis, 39 Years of Short-Term Memory Loss.