Al Franken's 2008 United States Senate election opponent had previously been a member of which political party before becoming a Republican?
United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2008 The 2008 United States Senate election in Minnesota took place on November 4, 2008. After a legal battle lasting over eight months, Al Franken from the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) defeated Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in one of the closest elections in the history of the Senate. Al Franken took his oath of office on July 7, 2009, more than half a year after the beginning of his term on January 3, 2009.
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.