After canvassing votes, Hineman unseats Beamer in District 118
By KALEY LYON
After additional votes were canvassed Monday, Virginia Beamer, R-Oakley, apparently was defeated by challenger Don Hineman, R-Dighton, in the primary election to represent District 118 in the Kansas House of Representatives.
Before votes were canvassed, Beamer had a five-vote lead of 1,853 to 1,848. After the canvass, she quickly called for a recount.
When 42 provisional ballots from counties within the 118th district were tallied, however, Hineman tallied 1,881 votes, with Beamer at 1,862.
When votes were canvassed, Hineman picked up an additional 33 votes, while Beamer -- a two-term incumbent -- picked up nine.
Beamer requested a recount this afternoon, proceedings that will be organized by the Kansas Secretary of State's office.
The 118th District includes all of Wallace, Logan, Gove, Lane, Wichita, Trego and Rush counties, and part of Ness County.
Efforts to contact the candidates this morning were unsuccessful.