Murkowski's win becomes official

The state of Alaska has certified Sen. Lisa Murkowski as the winner of the state's Senate race, allowing Murkowski to be sworn in with the rest of the Senate next week, according to the Associated Press.

Gov. Sean Parnell (R) and Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell (R) signed the certification Thursday, two days after the state's top elections official signed it. It will now be hand-delivered to Washington to ensure Murkowski (R) can be seated at the same time as her colleagues.

Murkowski's win makes her only the second candidate to win a Senate seat through a write-in campaign, and the first since Strom Thurmond in 1954.

The state Supreme Court last week struck down GOP nominee Joe Miller's lawsuit seeking to have thousands of write-in ballots thrown out because the voters misspelled Murkowski's name.

Then, Tuesday, a federal judge lifted a stay he had imposed on Murkowski's certification as the winner.

Miller said prior to the decision that he would no longer hold up Murkowski's certification, but he hasn't said whether he will press on in the courts.

He has set a press conference for 2 p.m. Friday, at which time his campaign says he will "address his plans moving forward, including whether he will pursue a federal appeal or state election contest.