As Irvine moves into its 2026 election cycle, the local political landscape is buzzing with a mix of political veterans and first-time candidates. This November 3, 2026 general election is particularly significant as it continues the city’s transition to a district-based system following the expansion of the City Council. The filing deadline for candidates seeking to run for elected office is August 7, 2026.

The Mayoral Race

Larry Agran (Incumbent): A veteran of Irvine politics with a career spanning several decades, Agran was most recently elected Mayor in 2024 and is seeking what would be his ninth non-consecutive term.

District 1: North Irvine (Orchard Hills, Northpark, Stonegate, West Irvine)

Melinda Liu (Incumbent), Sukhee Kang (former Irvine mayor 2008-2012), and John Park, who previously ran for the seat in the November 2024 special election.

District 5: Central Irvine (University Park, Woodbridge, West Park, Rancho San Joaquin)

Betty Martinez-Franco (Incumbent), who made history in April 2025 as the first Latina elected to the Irvine City Council; Byron Salvatierra, an Iraq War Army veteran; Alex Mohajer, who has opened a campaign committee; and Anthony Kuo, a former at-large Councilmember who previously lost to Martinez-Franco in the April 2025 special election.

District 6: South Irvine & IBC (UC Irvine, University Hills, Irvine Business Complex)

Kathleen Treseder (Incumbent), a UCI professor who resides in District 6, and Scotty Hong, currently Council Executive Assistant to Mayor Agran.

What to Watch For

Several themes are likely to dominate the campaign trail: a potential Open Space Protection ballot measure, the Oak Creek neighborhood plans, and the city’s projected $47 million budget shortfall over the next five years. Against that fiscal backdrop, Councilmembers Treseder, Martinez-Franco, and Liu pushed a ranked-choice voting proposal earlier in 2026, drawing pushback from Mayor Agran and Councilmembers Carroll and Mai over cost and voter confusion; the measure failed to get a second at the June 25, 2026 council meeting.