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.
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 1988|
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Candidate |
Larry Agran |
Barry J. Hammond |
Hal Maloney |
Popular vote |
15,651 |
8,707 |
3,111 |
Percentage |
57.0% |
31.7% |
11.3 |
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Close
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.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
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 |
|
Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 1990|
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Candidate |
Sally Anne Sheridan |
Larry Agran |
Popular vote |
14,256 |
13,584 |
Percentage |
51.2% |
48.8% |
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Mayor before election
Larry Agran
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Elected mayor
Sally Anne Sheridan
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Close
The 1990 election was held on June 5, 1990. Sally Anne Sheridan unseated incumbent mayor Larry Agran.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
Results[1]
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
Sally Anne Sheridan |
14,256 |
51.2 |
Larry Agran (incumbent) |
13,584 |
48.8 |
Total votes |
27,840 |
|
Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 1992|
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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
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Elected mayor
Mike Ward
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Close
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]
More information Candidate, Votes ...
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 |
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Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 1994|
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Candidate |
Mike Ward |
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Popular vote |
26,055 |
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Percentage |
100% |
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Mayor before election
Mike Ward
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Elected mayor
Mike Ward
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Close
The 1994 mayoral election was held on November 8. Mike Ward, who ran unopposed, was re-elected.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
Results[1]
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
Mike Ward (incumbent) |
26,055 |
100 |
Total votes |
26,055 |
100 |
Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 1994|
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Candidate |
Christina L. Shea |
Sally Anne Sheridan |
Popular vote |
19,479 |
11,537 |
Percentage |
49.8% |
29.5% |
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Candidate |
Paul Johnson |
Guy E. Mailly |
Popular vote |
4,747 |
3,314 |
Percentage |
12.1 |
8.5 |
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Mayor before election
Mike Ward
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Elected mayor
Christina L. Shea
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Close
The 1996 mayoral election was held on November 5. Christina L. Shea was elected.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
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 |
Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 1998|
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Candidate |
Christina L. Shea |
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Popular vote |
29,067 |
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Percentage |
100% |
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Mayor before election
Christina L. Shea
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Elected mayor
Christina L. Shea
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Close
The 1998 mayoral election was held on November 3. Christina L. Shea, who ran unopposed, was re-elected.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
Results[1]
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
Christina L. Shea (incumbent) |
29,067 |
100 |
Total votes |
29,067 |
100 |
Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 2000|
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Candidate |
Larry Agran |
|
Popular vote |
34.905 |
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Percentage |
100.0% |
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Mayor before election
Christina L. Shea
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Elected mayor
Larry Agran
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Close
The 2000 mayoral election was held on November 7. Larry Agran, who had previously served two terms as mayor, ran unopposed and was elected.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
Results[1]
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
Larry Agran |
34,905 |
100.0 |
Total votes |
34,905 |
|
Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 2002|
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Candidate |
Larry Agran |
Mike House |
Popular vote |
19,886 |
17,358 |
Percentage |
53.4% |
46.6% |
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Close
The 2002 mayoral election was held on November 5. Larry Agran was re-elected.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
Results[1]
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
Larry Agran (incumbent) |
19,886 |
53.4 |
Mike House |
17,358 |
46.6 |
Total votes |
37,244 |
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Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 2004|
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Candidate |
Beth Krom |
Mike Ward |
Popular vote |
26,157 |
24,153 |
Percentage |
44.0% |
40.6% |
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Candidate |
Earle Zucht |
Ronald Eugene Allen |
Popular vote |
4,984 |
4,171 |
Percentage |
8.4% |
7.0% |
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Close
The 2004 mayoral election was held on November 2. Beth Krom was elected. Among the candidates defeated by Krom was former mayor Mike Ward.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
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 |
|
Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 2006|
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Candidate |
Beth Krom |
John Duong |
Popular vote |
26,082 |
17,657 |
Percentage |
59.6% |
40.4% |
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Close
The 2006 mayoral election was held on November 7. Beth Krom was re-elected.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
Results[1]
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
Beth Krom (incumbent) |
26,082 |
59.6 |
John Duong |
17,657 |
40.4 |
Total votes |
43,739 |
|
Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 2008|
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Candidate |
Sukhee Kang |
Christina L. Shea |
Popular vote |
38,505 |
35,481 |
Percentage |
52.0% |
48.0% |
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Close
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.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
Results[1]
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
Sukhee Kang |
38,505 |
52.0 |
Christina L. Shea |
35,481 |
48.0 |
Total votes |
73,986 |
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Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 2010|
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Candidate |
Sukhee Kang |
Christopher Gonzales |
Popular vote |
34,634 |
19,383 |
Percentage |
64.1% |
35.9% |
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Close
The 2010 mayoral election was held on November 2. Sukhee Kang was re-elected.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
Results[1]
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
Sukhee Kang (incumbent) |
36,634 |
64.1 |
Christopher Gonzalez |
19,383 |
35.9 |
Total votes |
54,017 |
|
Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 2012|
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Candidate |
Steven Choi |
Larry Agran |
Katherine Daigle |
Popular vote |
32,505 |
28,741 |
9,951 |
Percentage |
45.7% |
40.4% |
13.9% |
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Close
The 2012 mayoral election was held on November 6. Steven Choi was elected.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 2014|
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Candidate |
Steven Choi |
Mary Ann Gaido |
Katherine Daigle |
Popular vote |
18,333 |
17,380 |
4,698 |
Percentage |
45.4% |
43.0% |
11.6% |
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Close
The 2014 mayoral election was held on November 4. Steven Choi was re-elected.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
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 |
|
Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Irvine mayoral election, 2016|
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Candidate |
Donald P. Wagner |
Mary Ann Gaido |
Popular vote |
30,002 |
26,278 |
Percentage |
37.7% |
33.0% |
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Candidate |
Gang Chen |
Katherine Daigle |
Popular vote |
11,816 |
8,299 |
Percentage |
14.8% |
10.4% |
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Close
The 2016 mayoral election was held on November 8. Donald P. Wagner was elected.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
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 |
|
Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
Close
The 2018 mayoral election was held on November 6. Donald P. Wagner was re-elected.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
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% |
Close
Quick Facts Turnout, Candidate ...
2020 Irvine mayoral election|
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Turnout | 80.24%[1] 17.82 pp |
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Candidate |
Farrah Khan |
Christina Shea |
Popular vote |
56,304 |
42,738 |
Percentage |
47.56% |
36.10% |
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Candidate |
Luis Huang |
Katherine Daigle |
Popular vote |
9,684 |
9,654 |
Percentage |
8.18% |
8.16% |
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Mayor before election
Christina Shea
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Elected mayor
Farrah Khan
|
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Close
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)
More information Candidate, Votes ...
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% |
Close
Quick Facts Candidate, Popular vote ...
2022 Irvine mayoral election|
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Candidate |
Farrah Khan |
Branda Lin |
Popular vote |
29,370 |
21,396 |
Percentage |
37.8% |
27.5% |
|
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|
|
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
|
|
Close
The 2022 mayoral election was held on November 8. Farrah Khan was re-elected.
More information Candidate, Votes ...
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% |
Close
Quick Facts
2024 Irvine mayoral election|
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Close
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
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
Declared
- Larry Agran (Democrat), at-large Irvine City Councilor (2022–present), former mayor of Irvine (1982–1984, 1986–1990, 2000–2004), and 1992 Democratic presidential candidate[15]
- Akshat Bhatia, realtor[16]
- Wing Chow (Republican),[17] retired Certified Public Accountant[16]
- Felipe Delgado (Republican),[18] automation project manager[16]
- Tammy Kim (Democrat), Vice Mayor (2020–2021, 2022–present) of the Irvine City Council (2020–present)[7]
- Ron Scolesdang (Republican),[17] business owner[16]
- Liqing Lee Sun (Democrat),[18] Irvine Finance Commissioner (2022–present)[16]
Endorsements
Tammy Kim
- U.S. Representatives
- Statewide officials
- State senators
- State assemblymembers
- Municipal officials
- Local officials
- Labor unions
- Organizations
- Political parties
Results
More information Candidate, Votes ...
2024 Irvine mayoral election
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
Larry Agran |
|
|
Akshat Bhatia |
|
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Wing Chow |
|
|
Felipe Delgado |
|
|
Tammy Kim |
|
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Ron Scolesdang |
|
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Liqing Lee Sun |
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Total votes |
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Close