Tammy Kim Officially Enters Irvine Mayoral Race Garnering Widespread Support
IRVINE- On June 16th, Tammy Kim officially pulled nomination papers for the position of Irvine Mayor. As expected, the race is anticipated to feature multiple candidates, including the formidable Larry Agran. Agran, aged 80, has served on the council for the past five decades and held the mayoral office several times before term limits were enacted by Irvine voters in 2014.
Irvine’s population stands at nearly 320,000, with 154,000 registered voters. Among these, there are 18,266 Chinese voters, 8,670 Korean voters, 6,775 Vietnamese voters, 6,500 Indian voters, and over 15,000 Latino voters.
If elected, Councilmember Kim will be the first directly elected Asian female mayor of a major city in the United States. “Irvine is a very popular city among Koreans and we are home to several major Asian corporations including Kia and Hyundai Capital,” Kim remarked. “We have a growing Asian population and as mayor, I look forward to making Irvine an even more attractive place for all Asiains to live and do business. Irvine is the fastest-growing city in the state of California. I will continue to prioritize public safety, protect our open space, encourage economic development, and ensure we lead the way in education and environmental sustainability.”
Kim’s campaign has strong momentum, with endorsements from every prominent elected official representing Irvine, including Rep. Katie Porter, Sen. Dave Min, Asm. Cottie Petrie-Norris, and Supervisor Katrina Foley. She also enjoys support from labor organizations such as the OC/LA Building Trades, Orange County Veterans Alliance (VALOR), and Orange County Firefighters. These endorsements highlight her strong and credible candidacy for Mayor of Irvine. Kim stated, “The broad support I have received reflects voter confidence, indicating that I can build coalitions and work collaboratively for the betterment of Irvine. By showcasing these endorsements, I can reinforce that my candidacy is well-supported and serious, positioning me as the best candidate to lead Irvine toward a prosperous and inclusive future.”
The election will take place on November 5th, with mail-in ballots being distributed starting October 5th.
Tammy is also supporting several Chinese candidates for Irvine City Council including Melinda Liu in District 1 (Orchard Hills, West Irvine, Northwood Pointe, Lower’s Peter Canyon), District 2: WILLIAM GO – (Cypress Village, Woodbury, Great Park, Portola, parts of Spectrum), and District 3: JING SUN – (Northwood, College Park, El Camino Real, Walnut, and parts of Westpark )