Democrat Christy Smith has pulled within 213 votes of incumbent Republican Dante Acosta in the race for California’s 38th Assembly District, according to the latest figures released Friday afternoon.

Acosta trailed in Los Angeles County on election night by 1,591 votes but more than compensated in Ventura County where he was 2,813 votes ahead. The 38th District includes areas of both counties. District-wide, Acosta led by 1,222 votes.

However, Acosta’s advantage began to melt away Friday afternoon as Democrat-trending late absentee and provisional ballots were added to the tally – with more to come on Tuesdays and Fridays until every vote is counted.

Friday’s update includes only 123,003 ballots from Los Angeles County since election day, while 934,000 remain to be counted in LA County alone beginning next week.

Of those, approximately 4 percent should be in the 38th Assembly District.

Here are the numbers on Election Night:

STATE (OVERALL: L.A.+Ventura)
Acosta – 64,444 – 50.5 percent
Smith – 63,222 – 49.5 percent

L.A. County only
Acosta – 44,886 – 49.13 percent
Smith – 46,477 – 50.87 percent

Ventura County only
Acosta – 19,558 – 53.87 percent
Smith – 16,745 – 46.13 percent

Total difference – 1,222 (Acosta)

On Friday afternoon, with ballot count updates from both the L.A. County and Ventura County registrars, the race tightened:

STATE (OVERALL: L.A.+Ventura)
Acosta – 68518 – 50.1%
Smith – 68305 – 49.9

Ventura County only
Acosta – 20897 – 53.55%
Smith – 18128 – 46.45

LA County only
Acosta – 47621 – 48.69%
Smith – 50177 – 51.31

Total difference – 213 (Acosta)

The next absentee and provisional ballot count updates from the Los Angeles and Ventura County registrars are due Tuesday.

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Here is Acosta’s official campaign bio:

“Dante Acosta was elected in November 2016 to represent California’s 38th Assembly District. Before joining the Assembly, Dante served as a Councilman and then Mayor Pro Tem on the Santa Clarita City Council from 2014-2016.

“In the private sector, Acosta worked as the general sales manager of a car dealership, and in a number of senior leadership positions in the finance industry as well as volunteering for several worthwhile charities.

“He attended California State University, Northridge, and the University of Phoenix.

“Dante is very supportive of both veterans and active duty military. His eldest son, Rudy Acosta an Army Specialist, was killed in action in Afghanistan.

“Dante and his wife Carolyn live in Santa Clarita, where they raised their three children.”

Smith, whose maiden name is Fisher, is a 1987 graduate of Wm. S. Hart High School, where she was in school with another person who previously held the 38th Assembly seat, Cameron Smyth, who graduated in 1989.

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Here is Smith’s official campaign bio:

“Christy Smith is a two-term Governing Board Member of the highly successful Newhall School District. She is a 36-year resident of Santa Clarita and a dedicated public servant. A graduate of Hart High School, Christy attended College of the Canyons and graduated with honors from UCLA with a B.A. in Political Science.

“After graduating she and her husband Philip moved to Washington, DC. In her early career, Christy worked as an analyst at the U.S. Department of Education on key national education initiatives including; Safe and Drug-Free Schools, School to Work, Parent Involvement in Education, and education research for the Department through the Asia Pacific Economic Consortium.

“Christy returned to California with her husband to raise their family. While raising their two daughters Christy was very active in local education, serving as a PTA and site council member. She was the founding chair of the Valencia Valley Education Foundation. She also served as a representative to the Wm. S. Hart District Advisory Board.

“Christy was elected to the Newhall School Board in 2009. She currently serves as the Board Clerk. She is active in education advocacy locally and statewide, serving as the Legislative Vice President of the Santa Clarita Valley Trustees Association and as a delegate to the California School Board Association.

“Christy is proven community leader. She served as chair of the successful Measure E Prop 39 bond campaign for the Newhall District, which has provided $60 million in resources for facility and technology upgrades. She also currently co-chairs “Raising the Curtain” a capital campaign to refurbish the historic Newhall Elementary Auditorium to make it a performing arts resource for the community.

“A well-respected, earnest public servant, Christy garnered 62.5 percent of the vote in her 2011 municipal cycle, making her the highest performing candidate in the community in that election. She is honored to have the support of the community and proud to serve. Christy understands education is the key to prosperity for citizens and businesses alike. Through her extensive advocacy work, Christy has been engaged in public policy issues impacting California families including; economic security, sound public budgeting, health and welfare, and private-public partnerships.

“Christy lives in Santa Clarita with Phil, her husband of 26 years and their two girls.”