Interactives:  Send Us Your Thoughts  WATCH: Franken Accepts Win  WATCH: Coleman Concedes   View Court's Ruling  View the Certificate  Read Statements on Ruling Related stories:  Court Rules in Favor of Franken  Coleman Concedes  Pawlenty to Sign Election Certificate  Court orders Coleman to pay $95K  Franken supporters collect petitions   Pawlenty caught between Senate rock, recount  Franken supporters unveil billboard  Coleman says more ballots should be presumed valid   Coleman wants to use campaign cash in lawsuits  State's next Senator won't be known  Senate race moves to high court appeal  Franken names  state director    Senate case tests court that shuns politics   Vandals strike Coleman's St. Paul home   No letup in Senate cash chase    MUST WATCH: One-on-one with Coleman  Radio ad aims at Coleman, but who else?  Coleman to appeal Senate ruling next week  JUDGES: Franken winner of Senate race  Should the Senate battle continue?  PAWLENTY: No Senate certificate until process complete  Franken's lead jumps to 312  Pile of Senate ballots that may count drops   389 absentee votes to be counted in Senate  COURT: 400 absentees may be added to race   Race now state's tardiest election  Trial to go to judges Friday  Case closing arguments set  Voter signatures are quandary in case  Costs mounting as trial drags on  Court rejects Franken bid to be seated

After being given the green light, Gov. Tim Pawlenty has signed the election certificate naming Al Franken the state's next U.S. Senator.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS caught up with the governor at the airport Tuesday as he arrived back from Washington D.C.

"Well Sen. Coleman and Al Franken made very gracious statements today acknowledging the work of the Minnesota Supreme Court. They’ve addressed the issues that it’s time for Minnesota to have two senators. It’s past time, so we’re going to get the certificate signed and make that happen," Pawlenty told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.

When asked about his personal feelings about the outcome, the governor thanked Coleman for his dedication to the state.

"As Solicitor General for the state of Minnesota, when he worked in the Attorney General’s Office as mayor of St. Paul, and as a U.S. Senator—Norm Coleman’s been an extraordinary leader and public servant for Minnesota. I thank him for his service and I know he’ll continue to do great things here and around the country. He’s a friend and a good person," Pawlenty said.

Spokesman Brian McClung says Pawlenty signed the election certificate around 6:15 p.m. at the governor’s residence in St. Paul Tuesday.