Republican Tom Emmer, who conceded the governor's race to Mark Dayton on Dec. 8, said Thursday that he spent the past few weeks decompressing from the campaign and is now working to figure out what's next.

"I'd like to take the litigation background, I'd like to take the policy experience, the experience of the grassroots statewide stuff that I've done .. (and) help businesses grow jobs," Emmer said.

The former candidate mingled with the crowd at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce dinner Thursday, where Dayton spoke. Emmer and his wife had lots of smiles and hugs for everyone, including former House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, a Democrat who ran for governor in 2010.

Emmer said he is also planning a meeting with Dayton sometime soon.

"He called us a couple of weeks ago to go out to dinner but we've been busy with the family stuff," said Emmer. "But we will. We absolutely will."