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

Irvine mayoral election, 1988

June 7, 1988

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. Larry Agran was re-elected.

Results

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

Irvine mayoral election, 1990

June 5, 1990

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

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

1992

Irvine mayoral election, 1992

November 3, 1992

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 (the two previous direct mayoral elections had instead been held coinciding with the statewide primary elections). Mike Ward was elected.

Results

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

Irvine mayoral election, 1994

November 8, 1994

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

Candidate		Votes	%
Mike Ward (incumbent)		26,055	100
Total votes		26,055	100

1996

Irvine mayoral election, 1994

November 5, 1996

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

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

Irvine mayoral election, 1998

November 3, 1998

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

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

2000

Irvine mayoral election, 2000

November 7, 2000

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

Candidate		Votes	%
Larry Agran		34,905	100.0
Total votes		34,905

2002

Irvine mayoral election, 2002

November 5, 2002

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

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

2004

Irvine mayoral election, 2004

November 2, 2004

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

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

Irvine mayoral election, 2006

November 7, 2006

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

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

2008

Irvine mayoral election, 2008

November 4, 2008

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

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

2010

Irvine mayoral election, 2010

November 2, 2010

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

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

2012

Irvine mayoral election, 2012

November 6, 2012

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

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

Irvine mayoral election, 2014

November 4, 2014

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

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

Irvine mayoral election, 2016

November 8, 2016

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

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

Irvine mayoral election, 2018

November 6, 2018

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

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

2020 Irvine mayoral election

November 3, 2020
Turnout	80.24% 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, 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 (party preference: Republican)
• Luis Huang, solar engineer and advocate (party preference: Democratic)
• Farrah Khan, business consultant and city council member (party preference: Democratic)
• Christina Shea, incumbent mayor and former city council member (party preference: Republican)

2020 Irvine mayoral election (party preference listed)

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

2022 Irvine mayoral election

November 8, 2022

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

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

2024 Irvine mayoral election

November 5, 2024

Incumbent Mayor Farrah Khan

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

Background

Although Irvine's municipal elections are officially nonpartisan, candidates tend to associate themselves with either the Democratic or Republican Party. 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. In March 2024, Khan lost to Wagner, who received greater than 50% of votes, avoiding a runoff election.

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. 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. Had the rule passed, Irvine would have been the largest city in the United States without a directly elected mayor.

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. 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, alongside serving as mayor for five non-consecutive two-year terms. 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".

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
• Akshat Bhatia, realtor
• Wing Chow (Republican), retired Certified Public Accountant
• Felipe Delgado (Republican), automation project manager
• Tammy Kim (Democrat), Vice Mayor (2020–2021, 2022–present) of the Irvine City Council (2020–present)
• Ron Scolesdang (Republican), business owner
• Liqing Lee Sun (Democrat), Irvine Finance Commissioner (2022–present)

Withdrawn

• Katherine Daigle (Republican), writer and candidate for mayor in 2022 (running for South Orange County Community College District board trustee)

Endorsements

Tammy Kim

U.S. Representatives

• Judy Chu, CA-28 (2009–present)
• Andy Kim, NJ-3 (2019–present)
• Grace Meng, NY-6 (2013–present)
• Katie Porter, CA-47 (2019–present)
• Brad Sherman, CA-32 (1997–present)

Statewide officials

• John Chiang, former California State Treasurer (2015–2019)
• Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer (2019–present)
• Betty Yee, California Democratic Party vice chair (2021–present) and former California State Controller (2015–2023)

State senators

• Dave Min, SD-37 (2020–present)

State assemblymembers

• Mike Eng, AD-49 (2006–2012)
• Ash Kalra, AD-25 (2016–present)
• Mike Fong, AD-49 (2022–present)
• Evan Low, AD-49 (2014–present)
• Cottie Petrie-Norris, AD-73 (2018–present)
• Sharon Quirk-Silva, AD-65 (2012–2014, 2016–present)

Municipal officials

• Doug Chaffee, Orange County Supervisor from the 4th district (2019–present)
• Katrina Foley, Orange County Supervisor from the 5th district (2021–present)

Local officials

• Joyce Ahn, Buena Park city councilor (2022–present)
• Ashleigh Aitken, mayor of Anaheim (2022–present)
• Valerie Amezcua, mayor of Santa Ana (2022–present)
• Fred Jung, mayor of Fullerton (2022–present)
• Sukhee Kang, former mayor of Irvine (2008–2012)
• John Lee, Los Angeles City Councilor from the 12th district (2019–present) (Independent)
• Kim Bernice Nguyen, Garden Grove city councilor (2016–present)
• Paul Seo, Rancho Palos Verdes city councilor (2022–present)
• Kathleen Treseder, Irvine City Councilor (2022–present)

Labor unions

• Orange County Labor Federation

Organizations

• Orange County Young Democrats
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Political parties

• Orange County Democratic Party

Declined to endorse

Political parties

• Democrats of Greater Irvine

Results

2024 Irvine mayoral election

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