About the vote count
As you watch these results, keep in mind:
- As of Friday, Nov. 15, Orange County voters had returned nearly 1.4 million ballots and 1.36 million had been tallied .
- The county has about 1.9 million voters considered to be active.
Get full results:
Keep in mind that in tight races the winner may not be determined for days or weeks after Election Day. This is normal. Here's why .
In Orange County vote updates will the released each weekday by 5 p.m. until the last official results are posted.
In California, ballots postmarked on or before Nov. 5 are counted toward the results as long as they arrive within seven days of the election. The California Secretary of State's Office is scheduled to certify the final vote on Dec. 13.
What is at stake in this race
Seven candidates entered the race to be Irvine’s next mayor, replacing the outgoing mayor Farrah Khan. In Irvine, the mayor is an at-large member of the city council, which means they represent the city as a whole, while the other six council members represent specific districts.
Why this race mattered
The winner will take the helm at a time of great change: The city is moving forward with plans to convert an old asphalt factory into a nature preserve surrounded by over 1,200 new homes. And the city has ambitious goals for confronting climate change: The nation’s first all electric hospital is set to open in Irvine in 2025. The city is also exploring banning plastic takeout containers and going all electric in new construction , which puts Irvine at odds with a federal ruling, as federal law states only the U.S. government can set energy-efficiency standards for appliances.
-
Scott Schmerelson was unanimously elected Tuesday to lead the LAUSD board after defeating a well-funded challenger in November’s election. -
Nguyen was able to take office weeks early to fill the vacancy caused Do’s resignation. -
Nathan Hochman succeeds George Gascón, known as the godfather of progressive prosecutors.
On another front: Rent has been on the rise in Orange County and Irvine is one of the pricier areas, with the average one-bedroom apartment going for over $2,500 per month. This is sure to be a hot button issue for the next mayor as they consider future land zoning and development. (In a recent UC Irvine poll, over a third of respondents said they were considering leaving Orange County for a variety of reasons; but the biggest was the high cost of housing.) The city is also still reeling from a recent federal corruption investigation, which found that the city failed to disclose all of the lobbyist work going on at city hall. Needless to say, tightening lobbying regulations will be a focus for the next mayoral term.
Follow the money
Go deeper on the issues
Get to know the candidates for Irvine's next mayor
Will Irvine tighten lobbying rules? (Voice of OC)
Irvine approves plans to build its first shelter for those who are unhoused (Voice of OC)
Residents say Orange County is too expensive, lacks affordable housing (LA Times)
