Coleman was a Democrat in Minnesota; a State that is a bastion for the Democrats via a sister fringe Left local third Party known as the Democratic-Farm-Labor Party. According to Coleman’s campaign website he switched from Democrat to Republican in 1996 because
“…Norm became increasingly frustrated with a Democratic Party that he felt was moving away from Minnesota’s hardworking middle class roots and values. He joined the Republican Party, which shared his vision on holding down taxes, growing jobs, reforming education and increasing public safety.”
Here is the military campaign appreciation YouTube video: