Irvine councilwoman Farrah Khan and first-time Democratic candidate Tammy Kim have secured seats on the Irvine City Council as of Nov. 6, with two seats still left undecided.

Khan won the Irvine mayoral election against incumbent Christina Shea with over 55,000 total votes, the highest vote count for an Irvine mayoral candidate in the city’s history, and will serve a two-year term. Kim maintained a 5,000 vote lead over the other 13 city council candidates and became the first East Asian American woman elected to Irvine City Council. She will serve a four-year term.

“It was a big loss for Republicans in Irvine,” Shea said. “The Democrats were very successful, they ran good campaigns and I just want to make sure that whatever support Khan needs to move into her new position I can help her.”

Candidates Mike Carroll, Larry Agran and Lauren Johnson-Norris are in the lead for the two remaining seats and are within a close margin of votes. Councilwoman Melissa Fox did not run for a second term, instead campaigning against Steven Choi in the California Assembly. 

The results indicate a likely shift to a Democratic majority in the city council, which has been Republican since 2012. 

“I think it really goes to show the city and the demographics have really changed,” Kim said. “The residents are tired of special interests controlling the City Council.”

The new city council will be sworn in on Dec. 8. After taking office, Khan plans to focus on an economic recovery plan, a new community energy program and more transparency in governance.

“Through COVID-19, we need to make sure that we are supporting our residents and small businesses,” Khan said. “Not only with navigating out of the pandemic, but also navigating out of the economic crisis that has come as well.”