The 2024 Irvine elections were held on March 5, 2024, and November 5, 2024. In the March primary, voters approved Measure D, expanding the Irvine City Council from five to seven members and transitioning the city from at-large to by-district elections.
Measure D took effect in time for the November general election, creating four new council districts — three of which would elect representatives to four-year terms, and one short-term seat (District 1) to be contested again in 2026. The mayoralty was also on the ballot.
Municipal elections in California are officially nonpartisan; candidates' party affiliations do not appear on the ballot, but every major candidate was registered with or endorsed by a major political party.[1]
The 2024 mayoral election was held on November 5, 2024 and coincided with elections for city council.[2] Incumbent mayor Farrah Khan, who was first sworn into office in 2020, could not seek re-election due to term limits.[3] Councilmember Larry Agran defeated fellow councilmember Tammy Kim and was sworn in as Mayor on December 10, 2024
Precinct results Liu:30–40%40–50% Park:30–40% No votes
City Councilmember before election
none (district created)
City Councilmember
Melinda Liu
District 1 covers north Irvine, including Orchard Hills, West Irvine, Northpark, Stonegate, and parts of Northwood. It was designated as a short-term seat, to be contested again in 2026.[5]
The race was competitive, with five candidates — three of whom held or had held city commission seats. Key issues included traffic congestion on Jeffrey Road, preservation of open space in Orchard Hills, and fire risk management.
Candidates
Melinda Liu (Democrat), estate planning attorney and Irvine Finance Commissioner.[6]
John Park (Republican), business owner, Irvine Transportation Commissioner, and perennial candidate.[7][8]
Michelle Johnson (Republican), Irvine Planning Commissioner.[9]
Jackie Kan (Democrat), small business owner.
Jeff Kitchen(Democrat), senior project engineer.
Results
2024 Irvine City Council District 1 election (Short Term)[4]
Precinct results Go:20–30%30–40% Starke:20–30% Yazdani:30–40% No votes
City Councilmember before election
none (district created)
City Councilmember
William Go
District 2 covers portions of central and southeastern Irvine, including Great Park, parts of Cypress Village, Woodbury and areas adjacent to the Irvine Spectrum.
During the campaign, Irvine Watchdog reported that Yazdani had filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in April 2024, resulting in the discharge of approximately $900,000 in state and federal tax debt, as well as related fines.[10] Subsequent reporting by the Orange Juice Blog detailed an ongoing civil lawsuit in which a creditor alleged that Yazdani had misrepresented her ownership role in a business when obtaining loans, and sought to have the debt declared non-dischargeable due to fraud and misappropriation claims. Yazdani filed a response in court denying all allegations.[11] The reports drew media and community attention in the weeks leading up to the election.
Candidates
William Go (Democrat), business leader and community volunteer.[12]
Mohamed Kothermydeen (Independent), small business owner.
Withdrawn
Alex Mohajer (Democrat), nonprofit executive and former candidate for the California State Senate in 2024.[14] Mohajer ended his campaign in July 2024, announcing plans to relocate to Arizona to work on voter outreach efforts ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.[15]
Precinct results Carroll:50–60%60–70%80–90% Craciun:50–60% No votes
City Councilmember before election
Mike Carroll (at-large)
City Councilmember
Mike Carroll
District 4 encompasses southwestern Irvine, including Quail Hill, Turtle Rock, portions of University Park, Irvine Spectrum and areas bordering Laguna Canyon. Incumbent Mike Carroll, previously elected at-large in 2020, sought and won re-election to the district seat.
The contest was one of the most closely watched in the city, with Carroll facing sustainability commissioner Ayn Craciun. The campaign drew renewed scrutiny amid questions about Carroll’s use of his official city portrait on campaign materials,raising concerns about blurring the boundary between public duty and campaign activity.[19]
This was not Carroll’s first such controversy. In late 2020, he came under fire for using approximately $70,000 from his staff budget on city mailers that critics argued served to promote his political profile rather than purely inform constituents. Following the backlash, the City Council in January 2021 approved new budget policies—by a 4–1 vote—that shifted oversight responsibilities to the city manager, aiming to increase transparency and accountability for council members' spending.[20]
Candidates
Mike Carroll (Republican), incumbent Irvine City Councilmember (at-large).[21]
Ayn Craciun (Democrat), nonprofit director and Chair of the Irvine Sustainability Commission.[22]
Measure D was a charter amendment placed before Irvine voters in the March 5, 2024 primary election. It proposed expanding the Irvine City Council from five to seven members, including the mayor and six councilmembers, and changing the electoral system so that the six councilmembers would be elected by individual districts rather than at large. The measure passed with approximately 59.8 percent of the vote.
The measure stipulates that if a councilmember elected at large—but residing in District 5 or District 6—vacates their seat, the position must be filled through a by‑district special municipal election (rather than appointment). Following the election of Councilmember Larry Agran to mayor a special election was held on April 15, 2025, to fill the remainder of his term for District 5.
The general election for IUSD Area 1 was cancelled, with incumbent Lauren Brooks securing a four year term.
Area 3
The general election for IUSD Area 3 was cancelled, with incumbent Cyril Yu securing a four year term.
Area 5
The general election for IUSD Area 5 was cancelled, with Connie Stone securing a four year term after incumbent Paul Bakota opted to not run for re-election
Tustin Unified School District
Area 2
2024 Tustin Unified School District Area 2 election
Precinct results Copeland:50–60% Pevehouse:50–60% No votes
Trustee before election
James Laird
Trustee
Kathy Copeland
Incumbent James Laird opted to not run for re-election. District 2 covers portions of Northpark and Orchard Hills in Irvine. Kathy Copeland was elected over Bill Pevehouse
2024 Tustin Unified School District Trustee Area 2 election[4]
Candidate
Votes
%
Kathy Copeland
7,753
54.0
Bill Pevehouse
6,599
46.0
Total votes
14,352
100
Invalid or blank votes
2,290
13.8
South Orange County Community College District
Area 1
2024 South Orange County Community College District Area 1 election
Precinct results Inmon:50–60%60–70%70–80%80–90% No votes
Trustee before election
Caroyln Inmon
Elected Trustee
Carolyn Inmon
Incumbent Carolyn Inmon was re-elected to a four year term ending in 2028. Area 1 covers much of south west Irvine, including UCI, Woodbridge and University Park. Inmon defeated Marlene Bronson and perennial candidate Katherine Daigle.
2024 South Orange County Community College District Trustee Area 1 election[4]
Candidate
Votes
%
Carolyn Inmon
31,500
68.4
Katherine Daigle
9,115
19.8
Marlene Bronson
5,446
11.8
Total votes
45,061
100
Invalid or blank votes
13,880
23.2
Area 3
2024 South Orange County Community College District Area 3 election
Precinct results Bartlett:50–60%60–70%70–80% Cifone:50–60%60–70% No votes
Trustee before election
Barbara Jay
Elected Trustee
Lisa Bartlet
Incumbent Barbara Jay opted to not run for re-election. Area 3 covers one neighborhood within Turtle Ridge in Irvine. Lisa Bartlett defeated Rocky Cifone to serve a full term of four years on the South Orange County Community College District.
2024 South Orange County Community College District Trustee Area 3 election[4]
Candidate
Votes
%
Lisa Bartlett
37,354
52.0
Rocky Cifone
34,501
48.0
Total votes
71,855
100
Invalid or blank votes
15,866
18.1
Area 6
2024 South Orange County Community College District Area 6 election
Precinct results Dack50–60%60–70%70–80% Franklin:60–70% No votes
Trustee before election
Ryan Dack
Elected Trustee
Ryan Dack
Incumbent Ryan Dack was re-elected to a full four year term ending in 2028. Area 6 covers the Irvine Spectrum neighborhoods, Great Park neighborhoods, Woodbury, Oak Creek, and portions of Northwood. Dack defeated Michael Franklin.
2024 South Orange County Community College District Trustee Area 6 election[4]
Candidate
Votes
%
Ryan Dack
30,125
59.7
Michael Franklin
20,318
40.3
Total votes
50,443
100
Invalid or blank votes
16,933
25.1
Notes
↑ While all districts were newly created under Measure D, the number of Democratic held seats did not change from 2022 to 2024, and are reflected here as being "held".
↑ Under Measure D, District 5 and 6 were to remain vacant while council members who reside in those areas still serve their council term at-large.
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