Al Franken (MN)

As an award-winning comedic writer, performer, and political satirist, Al Franken is taking an unusual route to Washington.

Al grew up in a middle-class Minnesota neighborhood and first tried his hand at comedy at the Dudley Riggs Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis. He started working as an apprentice writer on a new fledgling show, Saturday Night, now called Saturday Night Live. He stayed with the program and over the next two decades he won five Emmy’s and seven nominations for his work behind the scenes and on camera for the show.

After leaving Saturday Night Live, Al wrote three political books that made the New York Times best-seller list. He also hosted a radio show, Air Radio America, the nation’s first progressive political radio show to counter the influence of Rush Limbaugh. In 1995, Al and his wife moved back to Minnesota where he started the Midwest Values PAC which raised over $1.1 million for Democrats across Minnesota and the country. In addition, Al has visited troops overseas with the USO seven times and has been to Iraq four times.    

Al has been married to his wife Franni for 33 years and they have two children, Thomasin and Joe.

Al’s race against incumbent Republican Senator Norm Coleman is one of the most highly contested and closely watched of this election cycle. Coleman, the former democratic mayor of St. Paul, has voted with President Bush 86% of the time. He also holds a financial advantage over Franken, but according to Real Clear Politics the states has “a penchant for electing unconventional candidates.” On October 10th Coleman announced that he would end all negative campaign ads to which the Franken camp responded, “It's like an arsonist burning down every house in the village and then asking to be named fire chief.”

It is Democrats like Al Franken, from battleground states ready for change, that will help build the majority in Congress that President Obama will need. 

We must do everything we can to help elect Al Franken. You can help his campaign by contributing now. If you live near Al and would like to help you can also sign up to volunteer and we will help connect with his campaign. The stakes are too high, the time is short – get involved today.