Gov. Mark Dayton took a state plane to Bemidji Wednesday to conduct some state business and also to campaign for local DFL candidates there.

So his office says the governor's campaign will pay a portion of the cost of the flight, because of the political portion of the trip.

Republican officials had made a fuss about the flight Wednesday, with the Star Tribune reporting a tweet from Andrew Wagner, a field staffer for the House Republican campaign committee:

"Wonder if [Dayton] will thank the taxpayers of MN for picking up the tab for his plane ride to a Bemidji campaign rally."

While in Bemidji, the governor met with College Democrats at Bemidji State University at a get-out-the-vote effort, which also featured three DFL candidates for the Legislature.

The official business part of the trip involved a meeting with local officials and state departments to discuss some issues over a newly built bridge.

From Bemidji, the governor also flew to International Falls for a DFL event.

Dayton's campaign will pay the state $2,118 for the travel, said Katharine Tinucci, the governor's press secretary.

"This reflects the proportion of the travel that was campaign related, (i.e., there was a leg that was campaign only)," she said.

Total cost of the flight was $3,312, the Strib reported.