Mayoral elections in Irvine, California

Mayoral elections in Irvine, California, are held every two years.

The first direct-election for mayor in the city's history was held in 1988. All such elections have been held under state laws that make municipal elections in California officially non-partisan.

1988

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 1988
 
June 7, 1988[1] 1990 →
       
Candidate Larry Agran Barry J. Hammond Hal Maloney
Popular vote 15,651 8,707 3,111
Percentage 57.0% 31.7% 11.3

Mayor before election

Larry Agran

Elected mayor

Larry Agran

The 1988 mayoral election, held on June 7, was the first direct-election for mayor in the city's history.[1] Larry Agran was re-elected.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Larry Agran (incumbent) 15,651 57.0
Barry J. Hammond 8,707 31.7
Hal Maloney 3,111 11.3
Total votes 27,469

1990

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 1990
 
← 1988 June 5, 1990[1] 1992 →
     
Candidate Sally Anne Sheridan Larry Agran
Popular vote 14,256 13,584
Percentage 51.2% 48.8%

Mayor before election

Larry Agran

Elected mayor

Sally Anne Sheridan

The 1990 election was held on June 5, 1990. Sally Anne Sheridan unseated incumbent mayor Larry Agran.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Sally Anne Sheridan 14,256 51.2
Larry Agran (incumbent) 13,584 48.8
Total votes 27,840

1992

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 1992
 
← 1990 November 3, 1992[1] 1994 →
       
Candidate Mike Ward Marc Goldstone Helen T. Cameron
Popular vote 16,435 11,730 11,204
Percentage 37.3% 26.6% 25.4

Mayor before election

Sally Anne Sheridan

Elected mayor

Mike Ward

The 1992 mayoral election, held on November 3, was the first Irvine mayoral election to be consolidated with the statewide general election[1] (the two previous direct mayoral elections had instead been held coinciding with the statewide primary elections). Mike Ward was elected.[1]

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Mike Ward 16,435 37.3
Marc Goldstone 11,730 26.6
Helen T. Cameron 11,204 25.4
Les Racey 1,973 4.5
Al Nasser 1,699 3.9
David Fondots 1,032 2.3
Total votes 44,073

1994

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 1994
 
← 1992 November 8, 1994[1] 1996 →
   
Candidate Mike Ward
Popular vote 26,055
Percentage 100%

Mayor before election

Mike Ward

Elected mayor

Mike Ward

The 1994 mayoral election was held on November 8. Mike Ward, who ran unopposed, was re-elected.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Mike Ward (incumbent) 26,055 100
Total votes 26,055 100

1996

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 1994
 
← 1994 November 5, 1996[1] 1998 →
     
Candidate Christina L. Shea Sally Anne Sheridan
Popular vote 19,479 11,537
Percentage 49.8% 29.5%

 
Candidate Paul Johnson Guy E. Mailly
Popular vote 4,747 3,314
Percentage 12.1 8.5

Mayor before election

Mike Ward

Elected mayor

Christina L. Shea

The 1996 mayoral election was held on November 5. Christina L. Shea was elected.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Christina L. Shea (incumbent) 19,479 49.8
Sally Anne Sheridan 11,537 29.5
Paul Johnson 4,747 12.1
Guy E. Mailly 3,314 8.5
Total votes 39,077 100

1998

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 1998
 
← 1996 November 3, 1998[1] 2000 →
   
Candidate Christina L. Shea
Popular vote 29,067
Percentage 100%

Mayor before election

Christina L. Shea

Elected mayor

Christina L. Shea

The 1998 mayoral election was held on November 3. Christina L. Shea, who ran unopposed, was re-elected.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Christina L. Shea (incumbent) 29,067 100
Total votes 29,067 100

2000

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 2000
 
← 1998 November 7, 2000[1] 2002 →
   
Candidate Larry Agran
Popular vote 34.905
Percentage 100.0%

Mayor before election

Christina L. Shea

Elected mayor

Larry Agran

The 2000 mayoral election was held on November 7. Larry Agran, who had previously served two terms as mayor, ran unopposed and was elected.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Larry Agran 34,905 100.0
Total votes 34,905

2002

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 2002
 
← 2000 November 5, 2002[1] 2004 →
     
Candidate Larry Agran Mike House
Popular vote 19,886 17,358
Percentage 53.4% 46.6%

Mayor before election

Larry Agran

Elected mayor

Larry Agran

The 2002 mayoral election was held on November 5. Larry Agran was re-elected.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Larry Agran (incumbent) 19,886 53.4
Mike House 17,358 46.6
Total votes 37,244

2004

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 2004
 
← 2002 November 2, 2004[1] 2006 →
     
Candidate Beth Krom Mike Ward
Popular vote 26,157 24,153
Percentage 44.0% 40.6%

 
Candidate Earle Zucht Ronald Eugene Allen
Popular vote 4,984 4,171
Percentage 8.4% 7.0%

Mayor before election

Larry Agran

Elected mayor

Beth Krom

The 2004 mayoral election was held on November 2. Beth Krom was elected. Among the candidates defeated by Krom was former mayor Mike Ward.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Beth Krom 26,157 44.0
Mike Ward 24,153 40.6
Earle Zucht 4,984 8.4
Ronald Eugene Allen 4,171 7.0
Total votes 59,465

2006

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 2006
 
← 2004 November 7, 2006[1] 2008 →
     
Candidate Beth Krom John Duong
Popular vote 26,082 17,657
Percentage 59.6% 40.4%

Mayor before election

Beth Krom

Elected mayor

Beth Krom

The 2006 mayoral election was held on November 7. Beth Krom was re-elected.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Beth Krom (incumbent) 26,082 59.6
John Duong 17,657 40.4
Total votes 43,739

2008

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 2008
 
← 2006 November 4, 2008[1] 2010 →
     
Candidate Sukhee Kang Christina L. Shea
Popular vote 38,505 35,481
Percentage 52.0% 48.0%

Mayor before election

Beth Krom

Elected mayor

Sukhee Kang

The 2010 mayoral election was held on November 4. Sukhee Kang was elected, becoming the first Korean American mayor of a major U.S. city. He defeated former mayor Christina L. Shea.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Sukhee Kang 38,505 52.0
Christina L. Shea 35,481 48.0
Total votes 73,986

2010

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 2010
 
← 2008 November 2, 2010[1] 2012 →
     
Candidate Sukhee Kang Christopher Gonzales
Popular vote 34,634 19,383
Percentage 64.1% 35.9%

Mayor before election

Sukhee Kang

Elected mayor

Sukhee Kang

The 2010 mayoral election was held on November 2. Sukhee Kang was re-elected.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Sukhee Kang (incumbent) 36,634 64.1
Christopher Gonzalez 19,383 35.9
Total votes 54,017

2012

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 2012
 
← 2010 November 6, 2012[1] 2014 →
       
Candidate Steven Choi Larry Agran Katherine Daigle
Popular vote 32,505 28,741 9,951
Percentage 45.7% 40.4% 13.9%

Mayor before election

Sukhee Kang

Elected mayor

Steven Choi

The 2012 mayoral election was held on November 6. Steven Choi was elected.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Steven Choi 32,505 45.7
Larry Agran 28,741 40.4
Katherine Daigle 9,951 13.9
Total votes 71,197

2014

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 2014
 
← 2012 November 4, 2014[1] 2016 →
       
Candidate Steven Choi Mary Ann Gaido Katherine Daigle
Popular vote 18,333 17,380 4,698
Percentage 45.4% 43.0% 11.6%

Mayor before election

Steven Choi

Elected mayor

Steven Choi

The 2014 mayoral election was held on November 4. Steven Choi was re-elected.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Steven Choi (incumbent) 18,333 45.4
Mary Ann Gaido 17,380 43.0
Katherine Daigle 4,698 11.6
Total votes 40,411

2016

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 2016
 
← 2014 November 8, 2016[1] 2018 →
     
Candidate Donald P. Wagner Mary Ann Gaido
Popular vote 30,002 26,278
Percentage 37.7% 33.0%

 
Candidate Gang Chen Katherine Daigle
Popular vote 11,816 8,299
Percentage 14.8% 10.4%

Mayor before election

Steven Choi

Elected mayor

Donald P. Wagner

The 2016 mayoral election was held on November 8. Donald P. Wagner was elected.

Results[1]
Candidate Votes %
Donald P. Wagner 30,002 37.7
Mary Ann Gaido 26,278 33.0
Gang Chen 11,816 14.8
Katherine Daigle 8,299 10.4
David Chey 3,206 4.0
Total votes 79,601

2018

edit
Irvine mayoral election, 2018
 
← 2016 November 6, 2018[1] 2020 →
     
Candidate Donald P. Wagner Ed Pope
Popular vote 35,592 24,682
Percentage 45.3% 31.4%

 
Candidate Katherine Daigle Ing Tiong
Popular vote 13,018 5,341
Percentage 16.6% 6.8%

 
Results by county supervisorial district
Wagner:      40–50%

Mayor before election

Donald P. Wagner

Elected mayor

Donald P. Wagner

The 2018 mayoral election was held on November 6. Donald P. Wagner was re-elected.

2018 Irvine mayoral election[1]
Candidate Votes %
Donald P. Wagner (incumbent) 35,592 45.3%
Ed Pope 24,682 31.4%
Katherine Daigle 13,018 16.6%
Ing Tiong 5,341 6.8%
Total votes 78,633 100%

2020

edit
2020 Irvine mayoral election
 
← 2018 November 3, 2020 2022 →
Turnout80.24%[1]   17.82 pp
     
Candidate Farrah Khan Christina Shea
Popular vote 56,304 42,738
Percentage 47.56% 36.10%

 
Candidate Luis Huang Katherine Daigle
Popular vote 9,684 9,654
Percentage 8.18% 8.16%

Mayor before election

Christina Shea

Elected mayor

Farrah Khan

The 2020 mayoral election was held on November 3. Mayor Pro Tem Christina Shea, who had taken office on April 13, 2019, when Mayor Donald P. Wagner vacated the seat after winning a special election to the Orange County Board of Supervisors,[2] lost the seat to Councilwoman Farrah Khan, the first Democrat to be elected since 2010.

Declared candidates:

  • Katherine Daigle, small business owner and perennial candidate[3] (party preference: Republican)
  • Luis Huang, solar engineer and advocate[3] (party preference: Democratic)[4]
  • Farrah Khan, business consultant and city council member[3] (party preference: Democratic)
  • Christina Shea, incumbent mayor and former city council member[3] (party preference: Republican)
2020 Irvine mayoral election (party preference listed)[1]
Candidate Votes %
Farrah N. Khan 56,304 47.56%
Christina L. Shea (incumbent) 42,738 36.10%
Luis Huang 9,684 8.18%
Katherine Daigle 9,654 8.16%
Total votes 118,380 100.00%

2022

edit
2022 Irvine mayoral election
 
← 2020 November 8, 2022 2024 →
     
Candidate Farrah Khan Branda Lin
Popular vote 29,370 21,396
Percentage 37.8% 27.5%

 
Candidate Simon Moon Katherine Daigle
Popular vote 14,742 7,126
Percentage 19.5% 9.2%

Mayor before election

Farrah Khan

Elected mayor

Farrah Khan

The 2022 mayoral election was held on November 8. Farrah Khan was re-elected.

2022 Irvine mayoral election[5]
Candidate Votes %
Farrah N. Khan (incumbent) 29,370 37.8%
Branda Lin 21,396 27.5%
Simon Moon 14,742 19.0%
Katherine Daigle 7,126 9.2%
Total votes 77,730 100.00%

2024

edit
2024 Irvine mayoral election
 
← 2020 November 5, 2024 2024 →

Incumbent Mayor

Farrah Khan



The 2024 mayoral election will be held on November 5, 2024.[6] Incumbent mayor Farrah Khan, who was first sworn into office in 2020, cannot seek re-election due to term limits.[7]

Background

edit

Although Irvine's municipal elections are officially nonpartisan, candidates tend to associate themselves with either the Democratic or Republican Party.[6] In July 2023, term-limited incumbent mayor Farrah Khan had announced that she would run for the 3rd district seat of the Orange County Board of Supervisors against incumbent supervisor Don Wagner.[8] In March 2024, Khan lost to Wagner, who received greater than 50% of votes, avoiding a runoff election.[9]

In June 2022, ahead of the 2022 mayoral election, councilmembers Tammy Kim and Mike Carroll had introduced an agenda item to the Irvine City Council, which would have removed the mayoral seat from the ballot and switched it to an office appointed by the city council.[10] Kim alleged that she had never endorsed the move to change the seat, and had only agreed to serve as a second on the motion vote in exchange for Carroll's support for a different motion on the agenda. The day before the meeting, Carroll had attempted to pull the agenda-setting rule off the agenda following "strong public backlash", including official condemnation from the Orange County Democratic Party; nonetheless, it was brought to a vote and the city councilmembers voted to repeal the rule.[11] Had the rule passed, Irvine would have been the largest city in the United States without a directly elected mayor.[10]

In 2014, Irvine voters had approved a rule to its city charter such that councilmembers and the mayors can serve no more than two full two-year terms for life.[6] Agran was one of the longest serving city council members in Orange County, having served for over three decades on and off the city council since 1978,[12] alongside serving as mayor for five non-consecutive two-year terms.[13] In December 2022, Agran had resigned with a week left on his term in order to run for another four years on the city council, which prompted his colleague and fellow mayoral contender Tammy Kim to call it a "slippery power grab" and ask Agran if "40 years on the city council [was] not enough".[14]

Candidates

edit

Declared

edit

Withdrawn

edit

Endorsements

edit
Tammy Kim
U.S. Representatives
Statewide officials
State senators
State assemblymembers
Municipal officials
Local officials
Labor unions
Organizations
Political parties
Declined to endorse

Results

edit
2024 Irvine mayoral election
Candidate Votes %
Larry Agran
Akshat Bhatia
Wing Chow
Felipe Delgado
Tammy Kim
Ron Scolesdang
Liqing Lee Sun
Total votes

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak "Municipal Election History 1971 to Present". Irvine City Clerk's Office. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  2. ^ Robinson, Alicia (2019-03-27). "Irvine Councilwoman Christina Shea set to take Don Wagner's place as mayor". The Orange County Register.
  3. ^ a b c d Robinson, Alicia (2020-10-10). "Three challenge Irvine mayor for seat in Nov. 3 election". The Orange County Register.
  4. ^ "Luis Manuel Huang // Assembly District #68 // PDN: Progressive Delegates Network". www.adems2021.vote. Progressive Delegates Network. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Current Election Results". OC Vote. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Petersen, Carl. "General Municipal Election - November 5, 2024". City of Irvine. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Vice Mayor Tammy Kim Announces Candidacy For Irvine Mayor". OC Independent. February 4, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  8. ^ Torres, Destiny (July 22, 2023). "Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan launches bid for seat on Board of Supervisors". The Orange County Register. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Pollack, Gina (April 19, 2024). "Final 2024 Primary Results: Orange County's Top Race Results". LAist. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Biesiada, Noah (June 23, 2022). "Irvine City Council Looks To Limit Mayoral Power Ahead of Election". Voice of OC. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  11. ^ Biesiada, Noah (July 5, 2022). "Irvine Council Leaves Mayor On Ballot and Reverses Controversial Agenda Setting Rules". Voice of OC. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  12. ^ Foxhall, Emily (November 5, 2014). "Irvine voters oust Larry Agran, a decades-long fixture". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  13. ^ Farzan, Yusra (December 6, 2022). "Larry Agran resigns, temporarily, from the Irvine City Council". The Orange County Register. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  14. ^ Biesiada, Noah (December 6, 2022). "Irvine City Councilman Resigns for a Week To Skirt Term Limit Rules". Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  15. ^ "Irvine Councilman Larry Agran Announces Mayoral Campaign". Irvine Community News and Views. May 2, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d e Elattar, Hossam; Custodio, Spencer; Biesiada, Noah (September 3, 2024). "Orange County Voter Guide: November 2024 General Election". Voice of OC. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c Chmielewski, Dan (July 31, 2024). "Irvine DTS Council Candidate's Financial Troubles Exposed". The Liberal OC. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Did Your Candidate Vote? Here's A Look Over the Past 10 Years". Irvine Watchdog. August 24, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  19. ^ "2024 Contest/Candidate Proof List" (PDF). Orange County Registrar of Voters. August 30, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Chmielewski, Dan (February 2, 2023). "Tammy Kim announces [campaign] for Irvine mayor". The Liberal OC. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  21. ^ Chmielewski, Dan (March 13, 2023). "Katie Porter endorses Tammy Kim for Mayor". The Liberal OC. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  22. ^ Canlas, Kathia (September 3, 2024). "OCLF COPE Recommendations". Orange County Labor Federation. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  23. ^ "Our Official 2024 General Election Voter Guide: Endorsements". Orange County Young Democrats. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  24. ^ "2024 General Election Voter Guide". Planned Parenthood Action. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  25. ^ "Democratic Endorsed Candidates". Orange County Democratic Party. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  26. ^ Chmielewski, Dan (May 13, 2023). "Agran falls just short of DGI Endorsement for Mayor". The Liberal OC. Retrieved May 14, 2023.