Al Franken's 2008 United States Senate election opponent had previously been a member of which political party before becoming a Republican?
Norm Coleman Norman Bertram Coleman Jr., (born August 17, 1949) is an American lobbyist, lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Senator from Minnesota from 2003 until 2009. Before that, he was mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota from 1994 to 2002. Previously a member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Coleman became a Republican in 1996. Coleman was elected to the Senate in 2002 and served one term, losing his 2008 reelection bid by 312 votes (out of over 3 million cast).
Lenn Hannon Lenn Hannon (July 4, 1943 – April 1, 2010) was the second-longest-serving state senator in the history of the U.S. state of Oregon. He held office from 1974 to 2001, switching from the Democratic to the Republican party in 1980. He represented Oregon's 26th district, in southern Jackson County. His political career began when he defeated Republican Lynn Newbry in 1974 by just 37 votes. He earned the nickname "Landslide Lenn" for squeaking by this and other votes.