A seismic shift in Minnesota's political landscape unfolded Wednesday as the most game-changing election in a generation sent Republicans and the DFL scrambling for the last undecided prize -- the governor's office.
DFLer Mark Dayton unofficially leads Republican Tom Emmer by 8,856 votes -- a margin so slight that it could trigger a hand-ballot recount for the second election cycle in a row.
Officials began the tedious, nerve-wracking task of locking up ballots, which both parties may guard around the clock.
The day's events placed the state, yet again, in political suspended animation, awaiting the prospect of another recount brawl that could take months to resolve and get tangled in the courts.
Also left in doubt was who will confront the state's budget problems when the Legislature convenes in January.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty may get an extended stay: He said on Wednesday that he intends to serve until a new governor is sworn in, which could take him well past his scheduled departure of Jan. 3.
Republicans, emboldened by decisive wins in the state House and Senate, said they will fight for every last vote in the governor's race.
"They're trying to stop the train; we're the train," state Republican Party lawyer Tony Trimble said at a morning news conference only hours after both parties' "victory" celebrations petered out.