The State of Alaska certified the November general election results on Thursday, giving Sen. Lisa Murkowski her long-sought victory, a news release said. Murkowski won the election by a margin of 10,252 votes.
The certification was signed by Gov. Sean Parnell and witnessed by Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell. The certification had been on hold by U.S. Superior Court Judge Ralph Beistline until the Alaska Supreme Court had decided on Republican candidate Joe Miller's claims. In a unanimous decision last week, the Alaska Supreme Court rejected each of Miller's claims and found the Alaska Division of Elections conducted the election according to state law. Judge Beistline on Tuesday also rejected Miller's claims, dismissing his federal lawsuit.
"It feels great to have finality and for Sen. Murkowski to officially be declared the winner of the election," said campaign manager Kevin Sweeney. "We spent six weeks running a campaign, and it took eight weeks to get the final result. While the long wait may make it anticlimactic, it does not diminish the historic accomplishment of our campaign. All Alaskans that contributed to this effort should be proud today. And all Alaskans regardless of how they voted, can be assured that Sen. Murkowski will continue to work in Alaska's best interest for the next six years."
Murkowski will be sworn in for her second full term in the U.S. Senate in a ceremony on the Senate floor on Jan. 5.
