In Minnesota on Monday, the state elections board certified that Democrat Al Franken was the winner of the Senate election there, prevailing by 225 votes out of almost 3 million in all.

Senate Democrats loudly proclaimed that the race was over, as they started itching in public about seating Franken as soon as possible.

"The race in Minnesota is not over," said Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, who has some Republican Senators talking about a filibuster to keep Franken on the sidelines.

"Under the Minnesota law an election certificate does not issue until litigation has been concluded," said McConnell.

And for now, there will be at least one lawsuit from Sen. Norm Coleman, which means this seat will stay in limbo for at least a little while, but sooner or later it seems, Franken will be the Senator from Minnesota.

As for the Illinois Senate seat once filled by Barack Obama, the guy appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich will be here in DC today, trying to be seated, but that's not going to happen.

Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris will present his papers, those will be ruled as insufficient, and then Burris will evidently hold a news conference.

At this point in time, we aren't expecting any fireworks, or an effort by Burris to force his way onto the Senate floor, as officials will have staffers, police and others blocking his way just in case.

At some point it seems, both the Illinois and Minnesota Senate seats will go to the Democrats, giving them 59 in the Senate, much better than the 51-49 advantage they had the past two years.