2026 Irvine City Council Candidates and Election Preview
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated. For the latest version of our 2026 Irvine Election Preview, click here.
As Irvine moves into its 2026 election cycle, the local political landscape is buzzing with a mix of a political veterans and a first time candidate. 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. While Irvine City Council seats are nonpartisan, all the candidates who have filed thus far are registered Democrats who are seeking the Democratic Party endorsement.
Here is a breakdown of the candidates who have emerged so far for the Mayor’s seat and Districts 1, 5, and 6. The filing deadline for candidates seeking to run for elected office is August 7, 2026. Only time will tell whether more candidates enter the race.
The Mayoral Race
Larry Agran (Incumbent)
The Mayoral seat sees a familiar face in Larry Agran. A veteran of Irvine politics with a career spanning several decades, Agran was most recently elected Mayor in 2024. Known for his staunch advocacy for open space preservation and his role in the development of the Orange County Great Park, Agran is seeking to continue his leadership in what would be his ninth non-consecutive term as Mayor. Agran has not yet opened a campaing committee or updated his mayoral campaign website, but Irvine Watchdog has confirmed his intent to run for re-election.
City Council Candidate Matchups
District 1: North Irvine
Includes Orchard Hills, Northpark, Stonegate, and West Irvine. Click here for map of District 1
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Melinda Liu (Incumbent): Currently serving a short term after her victory in 2024, Liu is a local leader who has focused on veteran services, public safety ordinances, and community cultural events, such as the city-wide Lunar New Year celebration.
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Sukhee Kang: A familiar name in Irvine history, Kang served as the city’s Mayor from 2008 to 2012. After an unsuccessful run for Congress in 2012, Kang moved to Fullerton to run for State Senate in 2016 and lost. He has since moved back to Irvine and is making a return to the local ballot to bring his experience back to where his political career began.
District 5: Central Irvine
Includes University Park, Woodbridge, West Park, and Rancho San Joaquin. Click here for map of District 5
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Betty Martinez-Franco (Incumbent): Martinez-Franco made history in April 2025 as the first Latina elected to the Irvine City Council. A small business owner and former vice chair of the city’s DEI Committee, she won a special election to fill the seat vacated by Larry Agran when he became Mayor.
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Byron Salvatierra: An Iraq War Army veteran, Salvatierra has opened a campaign committee to challenge for the seat. His platform is expected to lean heavily on his experience in the military and his perspective as a community advocate leading protests at Irvine City Hall with 50501 OC.
- Alex Mohajer: Mohajer has opened a campaign committee for 2026 but has not expressed a clear intent on running for Irvine City Council.
District 6: South Irvine & IBC
Includes UC Irvine, University Hills, and the Irvine Business Complex. Click here for map of District 6.
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Kathleen Treseder (Incumbent): (We were unable to find her campaign website) Treseder, a UCI professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, has been a vocal advocate for environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality. While she was originally elected at-large in 2022, she resides in District 6 and is the primary incumbent for this newly defined territory.
What to Watch For
As the November 3, 2026, election approaches, several key themes are likely to dominate the conversation:
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District Representation: This is the first full cycle under the new district maps for Districts 1, 5, and 6, shifting how candidates campaign and how residents view their representation.
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Open Space & Development: With a potential Open Space Protection ballot measure looming, candidates’ stances on the Oak Creek neighborhood plans, along with the Irvine Public Library system, the Orange County Power Authority, and city’s tightened budget will be under the microscope.
