Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie Thursday put the final cap on the Minnesota governor's election with signing Democrat Mark Dayton's election certificate, officially declaring him the winner.
The normally-pro forma certificate signing this time attracted the Minnesota press corps because for weeks the election's close result -- Dayton bested Republican Tom Emmer by just under 9,000 votes -- mandated an automatic hand recount of all 2.1 million ballots.
Shortly before the recount's results were to be certified last week, Emmer conceded the race, clearing the path for Dayton's victory.
Here, more than a month late, is Dayton's official certificate:
