Here's a rundown of the year's top 10 political stories.

Gov.-elect Mark Dayton’s transition team is casting a wide net as he assembles the first DFL administration in a generation.

At Wednesday's celebratory press conference, Gov.-elect Mark Dayton insisted that he'd spent little time thinking about inaugural plans. But apparently his campaign staff -- namely finance director Katie Clark -- is focused on planning the festivities.

Two hours after being certified as the winner of the governor's race, Mark Dayton vowed his top priorities will be dealing with the state's $6.2 billion budget deficit and creating jobs. "Now the real work begins," Dayton said at a Capitol press conference, with his two sons by his side.

Tom Horner took a bigger risk than most when he embarked on his run for governor of Minnesota. The former Republican pundit and strategist turned Independence Party candidate alienated many of his old political allies when he switched party affiliation to challenge to GOP candidate Tom Emmer and DFLer Mark Dayton.

With his legal options in the gubernatorial election recount at a dead end, Republican Tom Emmer conceded the race to DFLer Mark Dayton on Wednesday morning. “Minnesotans have made their choice, by however thin a margin, and we respect that choice,” Emmer said outside his Delano home Wednesday morning. “Today is about closure. I’m honored to have been part of the process.”

Former Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe terminated all lobbying clients at the end of November. The reason? He's serving as an adviser to Governor-elect Mark Dayton's transition team.

The Minnesota Supreme Court has unanimously rejected Republican Tom Emmer's legal arguments regarding the correct method of counting ballots in the Minnesota governor's race. The court issued an opinion on Tuesday stating that local election officials could rely on either voter signatures or voter receipts to come up with the proper number of ballots legally cast.

Dayton Recount Director Ken Martin said Tuesday that while fundraising had been difficult thus far, the effort had secured more than $1 million for its efforts.

Minnesota political funds can make unlimited contributions to the recount operations of candidates Tom Emmer and Mark Dayton, the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board ruled on Wednesday. The board held an emergency meeting to discuss the issue after a request from Dayton's campaign for legal guidance.