BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- It's been more than a week since the election, yet some races are closer than ever. One of them -- the race for 5th District Supervisor -- is separated by just 43 votes, with the next batch of election results dropping Friday. That batch will include mail-in ballots delivered after Election Day, as well as ballots that need extra signature verification. It's these very votes that could determine who the next 5th District Supervisor is. "In Kern County, historically, we would expect the incumbent to do much better…Incumbents have many advantages," said political analyst, Tracy Leach, who added that Perez's situation serves as a "cautionary tale" to political candidates overall. Yet, the race for Kern's 5th District Supervisor -- between Kim Salas and incumbent Leticia Perez -- consistently has been separated only by a few hundred votes. And Wednesday, the tables flipped with Salas taking the lead by just 43 votes. Ming Ave Target closed after fire set in Christmas aisle, BFD searches for suspect "There does seem to be a tangible desire from the voters to have a change," said Leach. "Kim is a breath of fresh air. She's a change that we desperately need," said District 5 voter and resident, Virginia Carrizales who opted for Salas this time around. Carrizales said she's been Perez's constituent throughout her three terms but never saw change in the district, especially when it comes to concerns over the quality of roads and infrastructure. Leach added that what one would expect to be Perez's advantage -- like name ID and ties to donors -- is perhaps balanced by Salas' political support -- state Senator Melissa Hurtado, Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains and supervisor David Couch. "I just think a lot of [Salas]," said Kern District 4 Supervisor David Couch. "[She] really is in tune with her district. Someone that I know has integrity," echoed Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield). "The local Democratic Party perhaps isn't able to overcome that advantage. It's a significant assist," Leach commented about those endorsements. The Kern Democratic Party has long backed Perez, supervisor since 2013. "Kim Salas is a newcomer to campaigns but certainly not a newcomer to politics," Leach noted. Before running her own campaign, Salas worked for former Kern Supervisor and state Senator Michael Rubio, former state Senator Dean Florez and Assemblywoman Bains. When early results dropped after polls closed Election Day, Perez led by 391 votes. Kim Salas now leads by 43 votes. "Salas' lead will be maintained and likely increase, that's the expectation," Leach said. Then came drama in the final stretch of the campaigning period. Supervisor Perez announced she was under investigation by the District Attorney's Office for allegedly allowing her county office to be used for political purposes, which is against state law. She and her husband, Fernando Jara, have had their fair history of controversies too...most notably a conflict-of-interest case in 2018. "[Her controversies] cumulatively had a negative impact, certainly," stated Leach. In addition to support from state lawmakers, Kim Salas has been supported through independent expenditures. The group Firefighters, Workers and Realtors for Safe and Clean Streets supported Salas for Board of Supervisors 2024, raising nearly $60,000 and spending at least $30,000 on pro-Salas campaign mailers and literature. Neither candidate, as well as Christian Romo, chair of the Kern Democratic Party, responded to requests for comment.