JTA: “Franken Recount Victory Leaves Senate Without Jewish GOPers”

Martine Kaplan — July 1, 2009 – 11:19 am | Congress | Democrats | Republicans Comments (0) Add a comment

JTA reports on what Al Franken’s win means for Jewish representation: for the first time in decades, Jewish Republicans have no voice in the Senate, while there are now 13 Jewish Democratic Senators. In fact, there is only one Jewish GOPer in Congress, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA).

Following his concession, former Senator Norm Coleman plans to stay on as an “ongoing consultant or as a leader involved in a volunteer capacity” at the Republican Jewish Coalition, where has has been working since the election.

NJDC’s Ira Forman is quoted in the article:

Ira Forman, the National Jewish Democratic Council’s executive director, called Tuesday “the end of an era” because for the first time in decades there is no Jewish Republican in the Senate. He said that’s partly a reflection of the poor “state of the national GOP.”

Coleman’s decision to concede immediately was “wise” if he wants to run for future office in the state, Forman said, because polls showed “he was a dead man” in Minnesota if he had continued to fight in court.

The Jewish Democratic group, which had Franken as a featured speaker at its national conference last September, is “really excited” to have the Democrat in Washington, Forman said.

Go here to read the full article.

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