Incumbent Kansas House Rep. Joe Humerickhouse, R-Osage City, has pulled out a 200-vote victory against challenger Jim Irey, D-Melvern, in the 59th District.

Election officials in Osage County were still counting absentee ballots at midnight, and Humerickhouse ended up carrying the county by three votes, according to results this morning.

Humerickhouse, the independent fee appraiser, rode wider margins in western Franklin County and the Willow Springs Township in south-central Douglas County to victory over Irey, a former school superintendent.

Humerickhouse has served six terms in the Kansas House.