Republican Tom Emmer will concede the race for governor later this morning at his Delano home.   The campaign sent out a media advisory at 5:45 this morning.  We sat down with Emmer earlier this year when he wasn’t so delighted to have the press invade his home and as he put it “subject” himself and his family to being probed about his personal  life.   Emmer’s wife Jacquie and seven kids were gracious about having a TV crew set up shop in their private space that looks out onto the family’s own hockey rink. 

Last week Emmer made it clear he wanted to see a State Supreme Court decision before he made his next move.  He has that decision that attorney and Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley) concluded “leaves only 181 contested ballots in front of the state canvassing board, and an impossible 8,500 vote gap between Tom Emmer and the Governor’s Office.”   State Republican Party Chair Tony Sutton said “While we are disappointed in today’s decision from the Minnesota Supreme Court, we will continue to take this process one day at a time. As the next step in this legally mandated recount, we look forward to tomorrow’s State Canvassing Board meeting.”

After reading the court opinion Democrat Mark Dayton said “This also makes it clear that any effort to file a legal contest on this matter would lose in court.  We look forward to the rapid conclusion of the Canvassing Board process and prompt certification of the results of the 2010 gubernatorial election.”  No word yet when and where Dayton will accept victory and take the title governor-elect for the first time.