The State of Alaska today certified the November General Election in the race for U.S. Senate for Lisa Murkowski. Senator Murkowski won the election by a margin of 10,252 votes. The election was concluded this morning when 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.

The Murkowski campaign has been optimistic since Election Day, 58 days ago, about the outcome of the election. Though disappointed that Miller will continue his attempts in federal court to disenfranchise thousands of Alaska voters, today’s certification brings the 2010 election to a satisfactory conclusion.

“It feels great to have finality and for Senator 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 Senator Murkowski will continue to work in Alaska’s best interest for the next six years.”

Senator 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, 2011. All further inquiries should be directed to Michael Brumas, in the Washington, D.C. Senate office. 202-224-9301 or michael_brumas@murkowski.senate.gov