Meet the 2026 Candidates for Mayor

These candidates answered the same questions about their backgrounds, priorities and plans for Irvine.

Irvine’s Mayor will be elected at-large, not by district, so everyone has a chance to vote. Two candidates are running in the 2026 election: longtime Irvine elected official and current Mayor Larry Agran and political newcomer Maksim Egorov.

Larry Agran

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Photo credit Larry Agran

• How long have you lived in Irvine and what originally brought you here?

  We have lived in Irvine since 1975. We came to Orange County and Irvine when my wife, Phyllis, was admitted to UCI's College of Medicine.

• What personal or professional experience shaped your decision to run for office?

  Phyllis and I wanted to be a part of building Irvine — a new, master-planned city.

• What is one thing about you that voters would not learn from your campaign website or ballot statement?

  I have a really good sense of humor.

• What do you consider the most important issue facing Irvine and what specific action would you take during your first year to address it?

  We face a continuing affordable housing crisis that the City has been addressing with considerable success — we now have nearly 7,000 affordable housing units in place, mostly subsidized, below-market apartments rentals. We need to subsidize another 3,000 existing apartment units to reach our goal of 10,000 by 2030. Passage of Proposition 1 — the statewide housing bond —will help us reach our goal.

• What is one recent Irvine City Council decision you would have handled differently and why?

  I can't think of any recent Council votes I've cast or actions I've taken that I regret.

• At the end of your term, what specific result should residents use to judge whether you succeeded?

  While we are now among the top-ranked American cities in many categories, are we continuing to make progress in our shared aspiration to become the Safest, Smartest, Greenest, Healthiest ... and Kindest city in America?

• What is your favorite Irvine place to visit or event to participate in?

  Our family likes to visit the Great Park, seeing people enjoy this remarkable amenity that we are building together. It's important to remind ourselves and others that if Irvine hadn't led the way, that land would today be the location of a huge international airport about half the size of LAX.

To learn more about Agran, check out his campaign website and read his candidate statement.

Maksim Egorov

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Photo credit Maksim Egorov

• How long have you lived in Irvine and what originally brought you here?

  I permanently moved to the United States from Russia in 2015, and eventually my family and I made Irvine our home. What attracted us was what attracts many families: great schools, safe neighborhoods, parks and open space, and the overall quality of life. Now my two children go to school here, I serve on my HOA board, volunteer in the school community, and Irvine really feels like home. No matter where I travel - across the ocean, nearby to Mexico, across the country, or within California - I’m always happy to come back. Irvine is a great city, and I’m proud and blessed to call this city my home. 

• What personal or professional experience shaped your decision to run for office?

  I’m an engineer by education and have spent more than ten years working in the technology industry. My work taught me to analyze data, question assumptions, identify problems, and measure whether solutions actually work.

  But the biggest influence was getting involved locally. I started attending City Council meetings, speaking about open space and other community issues, and I realized that residents need leaders who will listen, ask difficult questions, and bring a different perspective.

  Across the country, we have seen engineers and technology professionals bring their problem-solving experience into public service. I believe Irvine can benefit from that perspective as well.

  Irvine is known as a city of innovation, and our city government should reflect that spirit. We should not simply wait to see what other cities are doing. We should look ahead, learn from the best ideas across the country, use technology responsibly, and find better ways to make city services more efficient, accessible, and responsive to residents.

  I’m not a career politician. I’m an engineer and problem solver, and I want to bring that approach to City Hall.

• What is one thing about you that voters would not learn from your campaign website or ballot statement?

  Public speaking does not come naturally to me. English is my second language, and standing in front of a room and speaking publicly is something I’ve had to work on.

  But I actually think that experience has made me a better listener. I don’t believe leadership is about giving the perfect speech. It’s about understanding the issue, listening to people, being willing to make difficult decisions, and explaining why.

  I think in some ways, my story reflects Irvine itself. Irvine has a history of electing immigrants and people who came to America from different parts of the world. That is one of the things I appreciate about our city. Irvine is an international and diverse community where your accent or where you were born does not have to determine whether you can contribute or serve.

• What do you consider the most important issue facing Irvine and what specific action would you take during your first year to address it?

  I believe one of the biggest challenges facing Irvine is how we manage continued growth while protecting the quality of life that brought so many of us here.

  Traffic is getting worse in some areas, including major corridors such as Jamboree and Michelson. We are hearing growing concerns about e-bike and traffic safety, especially on wider streets where speeding and dangerous driving can occur. At the same time, areas such as the Irvine Business Complex already have limited open space, so we need to protect what we have and look for opportunities to create more.

  During my first year, I would focus on these everyday quality-of-life issues while also making sure the city has the financial resources to address them. I would push for a review of traffic and e-bike safety in problem areas, protect existing open space, and closely examine recurring city spending versus recurring revenue.

  Before reducing police, road maintenance, parks, or other essential services, we should first look for savings in administrative spending. I would start with the Mayor’s office itself and propose reducing its budget.

  For me, these issues are connected. Responsible growth means keeping Irvine safe, financially strong, easy to move around, and a great place to live.

• What is one recent Irvine City Council decision you would have handled differently and why?

  One area where I would have taken a different approach is the city’s financial oversight. When concerns are being raised about spending and future budget gaps, I believe the Council should welcome stronger independent review rather than resist it.

  I support an independent audit function and greater transparency around contracts, competitive bidding, and major expenditures. Residents shouldn’t have to be accountants to understand where their tax dollars are going.

• At the end of your term, what specific result should residents use to judge whether you succeeded?

  I would ask residents to look at three things:
  1. Is Irvine financially stronger?
  2. Did we protect our open space and neighborhoods?
  3. And are basic city services - especially public safety, roads, parks, and infrastructure - better or at least as strong as when I took office?

  And I think there is another important measure: whether residents feel City Hall listens to them. Success would mean people can see where their money goes, understand why decisions are made, and feel they have a meaningful voice before major decisions are finalized.

• What is your favorite Irvine place to visit or event to participate in?

  Quail Hill (close to my home) is one of my favorite places in Irvine. I’m a runner, so I enjoy running there and experiencing the beautiful combination of trails, hills, views, and open space.

  I also enjoy the Great Park. I like going there with my family, especially for city events and community activities. It’s a place where you can see families and people from all parts of Irvine come together.

To learn more about Egorov, check out his campaign website and read his candidate statement.