Obama gave a speech declaring victory in the Democratic primaries in June of that year at the Xcel Energy Center.

The race was close, requiring a recount followed by several legal challenges that would prevent a winner from being seated until July 2009.

[2] A legal challenge by Coleman was unsuccessful and Franken was eventually certified as the winner of the election following a unanimous ruling of the Minnesota Supreme Court, having a final margin of 312 votes.

Minnesota's constitutional officers—governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and auditor—were not up for election in 2008.

The body's lone independent, Mark Olson—who had been ejected from the Republican caucus after being convicted of spousal abuse—chose not to seek re-election.