Minn. Battle Has Nothing on '74-75 Marathon

Dem Durkin finally won NH Senate seat after revote 10 months later
By Kristina Loew,  Newser User
Posted Nov 9, 2008 6:01 AM CST
Minn. Battle Has Nothing on '74-75 Marathon
Al Franken supporters covered their heads with newspaper as they tried to nap while waiting for the results of Franken's neck-and-neck race with Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, Nov. 5, 2008.   (AP Photo)

The vitriolic standoff between Al Franken and Norm Coleman in the Minnesota Senate race—headed for a recount, then likely the courts and possibly the Senate—could take many months to resolve, judging from a precedent in New Hampshire 34 years ago, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. That fight, after a 1974 election not quite as tight as this one, wasn’t settled for 10 months.

When votes were counted on Election Day, heavily favored Republican Rep. Louis Wyman led Democrat John Durkin by 355 votes. After a recount, Durkin led by 10. The case went to the Senate, but after as many as 35 votes there, a special election revote was scheduled for Sept. 16, 1975. Durkin won in a landslide, and was officially a senator two days later. (More Norm Coleman stories.)

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