Democrat Al Franken has started using the title "senator-elect," despite the fact that his contest with Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) has not yet been decided. A Minnesota court is currently hearing Coleman's challenge to the recount. A press release sent out by his staff Monday announcing a series of town halls with local mayors reads: "Sen.-elect Franken held the first in a series of roundtable discussions with Minnesota Mayors today in St. Paul. Franken and metro-area mayors discussed the economic realities facing their cities, budget cuts, President Obama's measures for economic stimulus, and how to grow Minnesota's economy."
The Democratic mayor of St. Paul is also quoted in the release referring to Franken as the victor. "Right now, Washington is debating matters of enormous consequence to Minnesota's economy," Mayor Chris Coleman says in the release. "Senator-elect Franken understands what our cities need to prosper, and we're ready for him to go to Washington to be a voice for us."
Since taking the lead in the recount, Franken has insisted that he is the rightful winner of the Minnesota Senate race but did not use the phrase in a press release until Monday. Franken staffers and attorneys have used the phrase but often drawn flack from Republicans for doing so.