Republican incumbent Norm Coleman faced comedian and commentator Al Franken in Minnesota's 2008 Senate race. Franken and Coleman were tied with 42 percent of the vote each, with 221 votes separating the two candidates. Coleman was declared the winner, but a recount of votes began in mid-November.

On April 13, 2009, after months of extended vote recount, a three-judge panel handed down the opinion that Al Franken won the November 2008 U.S. Senate election. Coleman's spokesman Ben Ginsberg said the senator would appeal the decision to the Minnesota Supreme Court.Star Tribune: Spokesman says Coleman will appeal ruling, probably next week (April 14, 2009) The hearings began on June 1, 2009.

As of December 22, 2008, Franken led over Coleman by 48 votes out of 2.9 million votes cast. The results were based on a preliminary report of a review of 5,000 challenged votes and was to be officially released on December 23.

In a separate ruling on December 18, 2008, the Supreme Court ruled that an estimated 1,600 absentee ballots had been improperly rejected and must be identified and counted by December 31, 2008. This, along with hundreds of challenged ballots whose fate had yet to be decided by the state Canvassing Board meant that the recount process into 2009.FOX News: Franken Takes Lead in Minnesota Recount for the First Time (December 19, 2008)

The narrow margin of less than 250 votes incited controversy that, according to analysts, could lead to a prolonged legal battle between the Republican and Democratic camps. Accusations and allegations of fraud and falsifying results have been made after an initial 750 vote lead shrunk to less than 300, after some "typos" were corrected. The issue was not resolved by January 2009, leaving open the possibility that Minnesota's Democratic Senate could vote to instate Franken, regardless of ongoing legal procedures.FOX News: Minnesota Ripe for Election Fraud (November 10, 2008) Politico: No joke: Minnesota race is soooo ugly ... (November 10, 2008) However, Republicans have vowed to legally challenge any appointment if it occurs.CNN: Senate GOP prepared to fight if Dems try to seat Franken (January 3, 2008)

On January 1, 2009, the count showed Franken leading Coleman by a mere 48 votes.KTTC (Rochester, MN): Ritchie: Senate recount could linger to December (November 5, 2008) FOX News: Minnesota Ripe for Election Fraud (November 10, 2008) On January 4, 2009, Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie announced that the Minnesota state election board would pronounce Franken as the winner by a margin of 225 votes on the following day. On January 6, 2009, Coleman said he had filed a lawsuit challenging the recount.West Central Tribune: Coleman sues over Minnesota Senate recount result (January 6, 2009) Coleman's campaign planned to challenge the decision based on absentee ballots they say were wrongly rejected.CNN: Panel to declare Franken winner... (January 4, 2009)

In 2002, Coleman ran against then-incumbent DFL senator Paul Wellstone, who died in a plane crash during the campaign. Coleman ended up defeating Wellstone's Democratic replacement in the campaign, former Vice President Walter Mondale. Franken has stated his admiration for Wellstone, who was regarded nationally as a standard bearer of the Democratic Party's left—or progressive—wing.Huffington Post: Reflections on the Wellstone Memorial, By Al Franken (February 11, 2006)