Al Franken to Win Re-Election as Minnesota Senator
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) was projected to win a new term in the Senate, according to the Associated Press.
Franken defeated Mike McFadden, after leading in polls throughout the campaign.
Franken’s win is a contrast to the razor thin victory he had against incumbent Norm Coleman in the 2008 campaign, which led to a recount. During his Senate term, Franken avoided the national media spotlight, and drew on his showbiz connections primarily for fundraising. “Saturday Night Live” alum Amy Poehler and “mad Men” star Jon Hamm headlined fundraisers for Franken, but he avoided the Sunday talk show circuit and other national outlets.
Franken also highlighted such issues as net neutrality and his opposition to the Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger, although those took a back seat to healthcare and the economy.
On a bleak night for Democrats, his victory is one of the few bright spots, particularly because it was once thought that Republicans would invest heavily to try to defeat him.
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