2025 Irvine elections

Last updated

2025 Irvine special election
Flag of Irvine, California.svg
  2024 April 15, 20252026 

1 of 7 seats on City Council
4 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Seats before42
Seats won10
Seats after52
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Steady2.svg

Irvine Council 2025.svg
Party Gains:
     Democratic gain
     No election

The 2025 Irvine special election was held on April 15, 2025, to fill a vacancy on the Irvine City Council created when Councilmember Larry Agran was elected Mayor of Irvine in the November 2024 election and sworn in the following December. [1]

Contents

Although Agran was elected at-large in 2022, the passage of Measure D in March 2024 restructured Irvine's electoral system. The measure expanded the City Council from five to seven members and transitioned elections from at-large to by-district. It also established that any vacancy in an at-large seat held by a councilmember residing in District 5 or 6 would be filled by a special election in that district. [2] [3] [4]

As Agran resided in the newly created District 5, the vacancy was filled through a by-district special election on April 15, 2025. District 5 includes the neighborhoods of Rancho San Joaquin, University Park, Westpark, and Woodbridge. [5] [6]

Municipal elections in California are officially nonpartisan, and candidates' party affiliations do not appear on the ballot. [5]

District 5

2025 Irvine City Council District 5 special election
Flag of Irvine, California.svg
 District createdApril 15, 20252026 
Turnout27.6% [7]
  Betty Martinez Franco City of Irvine.jpg Anthony-kuo-headshot.jpg
CandidateBetty Martinez FrancoAnthony KuoDana Cornelius
Popular vote3,8833,305776
Percentage48.76%41.50%9.74%

Irvine City Council Special Election 2025 results by precinct.svg
Precinct results
Martinez Franco:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Kuo:     40–50%     50–60%
     No votes

City Councilor before election

District created

City Councilor

Betty Martinez Franco

The District 5 special election was held on April 15, 2025, to fill a vacancy created when Councilmember Larry Agran was elected Mayor of Irvine in the 2024 regular election. Although Agran was elected to the council at-large in 2022, the passage of Measure D in March 2024 transitioned Irvine to a district-based electoral system. Under the measure's provisions, any vacancy caused by the departure of an at-large councilmember residing in Districts 5 or 6 would be filled through a by‑district special election. [2] [3]

District 5 includes the neighborhoods of Rancho San Joaquin, University Park, Westpark, and Woodbridge. [5] The race initially attracted several prominent candidates, including former councilmember Tammy Kim, who withdrew from the race on February 7 after being removed from the ballot by court order following a residency challenge. [8]

In May 2025, the Orange County District Attorney's Office announced formal charges against Kim—including ten felony counts and one misdemeanor—for allegedly lying about her residency while serving on the City Council and running for mayor and council. The charges include perjury by declaration, filing false documents, aiding illegal casting of votes, nominating fraud, and voter registration fraud. If convicted, Kim faces up to eleven years and two months in prison and a lifetime ban from holding public office. [9] [10]

Betty Martinez Franco, a small business owner, was elected to the council, defeating former councilmember Anthony Kuo and homeowners association board member Dana Cornelius. [11] Martinez Franco became the first Latina elected to the Irvine City Council.

Candidates

On Ballot

  • Betty Martinez Franco (Democratic), small business owner, and former vice chair of Irvine's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. [11]
  • Anthony Kuo (Republican), former Irvine City Councilmember (2018–2022)
  • Dana Cornelius (American Independent Party), homeowners association board member

Withdrawn

  • Tammy Kim – former Irvine city councilmember (2020–2024).

Results

2025 Irvine City Council District 5 special election (Short Term) [7]
CandidateVotes%
Betty Martinez Franco3,88348.8
Anthony Kuo3,30541.5
Dana Cornelius7769.74
Total votes7,964 100
Invalid or blank votes390.5

References

  1. "Longtime Irvine Councilmember Larry Agran Sworn In as Mayor". Los Angeles Times. December 11, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Irvine Voters to Decide on Changing City's Election System". Voice of OC. February 13, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Irvine, California, Measure D, City Council Size and Districts Amendment (March 2024)". Ballotpedia. March 5, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  4. "REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION – Declaration of Vacancy & Calling Special Election". City of Irvine. December 10, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 "What to Expect in Irvine's Council District 5 Special Municipal Election". New University. April 14, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  6. "Special Municipal Election Certification – April 15, 2025 District 5". City of Irvine. May 2, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  7. 1 2 "OC ROV 2025 Special Election Statement of Votes" (PDF). Orange County Registrar of Voters. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  8. "Former Irvine Councilwoman Abandons Campaign Amid Residency Questions". Voice of OC. February 7, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  9. "Former Irvine City Councilmember Tammy Kim Charged with Multiple Felonies for Lying about Her Residency while Serving on City Council, Running for Mayor". Orange County District Attorney. May 22, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  10. "Former Irvine Councilmember Charged with Perjury, Multiple Felonies in Alleged Election Fraud". LAist. May 22, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Irvine's First Latina Councilmember Elected in Special Election". LAist. April 16, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.