Former Democratic state Assemblyman Adam Gray has taken the lead over Republican incumbent Rep. John Duarte in the razor thin race for California’s 13th Congressional District by just 182 votes.

Duarte had been leading by 202 votes Tuesday evening, but as of Wednesday morning Gray took a narrow lead. Close elections are nothing new for the district and the candidates. In 2022, the two men faced each other in a midterm election decided by 564 votes.

Gray served California’s 21st Assembly District, which included all of Merced County and parts of Stanislaus County, from 2012 to 2022. A critic of state water management, Gray has said his priorities include water, agriculture, and improvements in education.

Duarte has represented the 13th Congressional District, which includes parts of Fresno, since 2023. While in office, Duarte sponsored a number of bills, including the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act.

According to the Associated Press, 99 percent of the votes have been counted in the Central Valley race.

At this point in the electoral process, campaigns and volunteers are working on “ballot curing,” a term for helping voters fix disqualified ballots. In California, counties must verify that ballots qualify to be counted. A signature on the ballot not matching the signature that a county registrar has on file is a common issue that can lead to ballot curing.

Voters have the right to be notified if the signature on their vote-by-mail or provisional envelope is absent or their signature does not match the signature on file. Voters can also check on their own with the secretary of state.

Republican, Democratic, and nonpartisan organizations use uncured ballot lists to let voters know that their ballots were rejected and tell them how to fix the issue.

A close election could result in a recount. Any registered California voter can request a recount for any office, presidential electors, or measure, but the voter must say on which candidate’s behalf the request is being made, according to the secretary of state’s office. California law has no provision for automatic recounts.

Voters must file for a recount with the county election official responsible for conducting an election within five days of an official result. The recount must begin no more than seven days after the county election official has received the recount request.

The election must be certified no later than Dec. 5 at the county level, and no later than Dec. 13 by the secretary of state.