COUPEVILLE — Republican challenger Kelly Emerson now leads incumbent Democratic Island County Commissioner John Dean in the battle for the District 3 seat on the county board of commissioners by 536 votes, according to the most recent vote tally released Thursday evening.

Emerson now has 15,556 votes to Dean’s 15,020.

Island County released new numbers in the race at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Emerson has 50.8 percent of the vote, while Dean has 49.1.

A total of 32,110 votes have been counted so far. County officials estimate they will count another 4,200 ballots in the days to come.

The next tally is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 8.