The OC Registrar of Voters is posting updates daily on the counting as it works its way through mailed-in and dropped-off ballots in the elections.

In Wednesday’s update, Andrea McElroy held on to her lead over Kirsten Walsh to fill the vacant seat on the Newport-Mesa Unified School Board.

The district’s board had appointed Walsh in January to the Area 5 seat, but a successful petition drive forced the special election.

Grassroots efforts had also successfully collected enough signatures to force the public vote held in Huntington Beach, with Measure A and Measure B both appearing to pass as of Wednesday’s update on ballot counting.

If Measure A succeeds, it would eliminate the law approved by the Huntington Beach City Council that creates a 21-member community review board that would decide books that should be relocated from the children’s section and require parental permission for checkout and could block the purchase of new books if a majority of the members feel a title doesn’t meet “community standards.”

The measure would instead make the director of the city’s libraries the person in charge of setting standards for what materials the library holds.

Measure A was succeeding with more than 58% of the vote as of Wednesday’s update of unofficial results.

If results also continue to return in Measure B’s favor, a public vote would be required if the city ever pursued privatizing operations of the city’s libraries in the future. The measure was passing with more than 60% of the vote as of Wednesday.

Carol Daus, one of Our Library Matters’ many volunteers who campaigned for the measures, and a longtime Huntington Beach Public Library volunteer, said she was ecstatic with the early results as they came in.

“You never know in a place like Huntington Beach, it’s a conservative city and they poured a lot of money into the campaign,” she said. “It was somehow complicated with the ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ We didn’t know how many we reached. I’m just grateful if it holds. Right now, it’s looking pretty good on both measures. I feel pretty confident.”

Councilmember Gracey Van Der Mark, who first raised the issue of screening out children’s books with sexually explicit material when she was mayor in 2023, said she and others on the “No on Measures A and B” team had been “swimming upstream” with their campaign, but still vow to remain committed to protecting the community’s children.

“This won’t change that we will continue to expose what is going on in our public libraries and protect our children from it,” she said. “What we were trying to do with these measures is to bring in the community and involve them in the process.”

McElroy had also partly campaigned on an issue of parental rights, saying she felt she most connected with voters over opposition to the state’s SAFETY Act, which prohibits school districts from requiring staff to disclose information about a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to parents without the student’s consent.

“Parents do not want secrets kept from them,” McElroy said.

McElroy, 55, held more than 54% of the votes as of Wednesday’s results update.

“This process has been about giving Area 5 voters a chance to speak and they have,” McElroy said. “My thanks to my husband, Thom, my campaign team and every voter in Area 5. Kirsten ran a spirited campaign, and it will be my responsibility to represent our entire community.”

The Registrar of Voters will update results daily at 5 p.m. at ocvote.gov. An estimated 3,360 ballots remain to be counted.

The winner will serve the remaining term of the district’s Area 5 seat after former trustee Michelle Barto was elected to the Newport Beach City Council in November.

Walsh had been appointed to the trustee seat over McElroy and other applicants by a divided school board in late January. But a petition collected enough signatures to reverse the appointment and require a public vote instead.

The two candidates on Tuesday were hopeful and confident, both saying they felt their platforms resonated with voters in District Area 5.

McElroy, 55, who held more than 54% of the votes counted Tuesday night, said she frequently volunteered as room mom, with theater programs and the tennis team when her daughter, now a college senior, was in the district.

On Tuesday, she said she was spending the evening having a private party with her family and her election team.

McElroy said she felt she most connected with voters over opposition to the state’s SAFETY Act, which prohibits school districts from requiring staff to disclose information about a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to parents without the student’s consent.

“Parents do not want secrets kept from them,” McElroy said.

She said she was often told by residents during campaigning that they were happy they had an opportunity to vote for someone who represents their values, she said. “They said this is a democracy and they believe in governing by the will of the people.”

Walsh, 53, who was flying to Florida to watch her son race in rowing at the Junior National Championships in Sarasota, said she felt voters wanted to see someone on the school board whom they could trust in promoting the best interests of their children and grandchildren first.

“People that show up every day to make their schools a better place are the ones that give kids opportunity to reach their highest potential,” she said, adding that many voters she spoke with were looking for a nonpartisan candidate whose only concern is the schools and the wellbeing of the kids, not party politics.

Walsh has a sophomore and a senior at Newport Harbor High School and is the school’s PTA president.

Both candidates touted their experience in the district and said their background with Newport-Mesa Unified will enable them to make informed decisions and gain insight into what the district most needs.

Walsh said she brings “both professional expertise in child development and lived experience as an NMUSD parent,” and her time as a volunteer at schools “taught me the importance of building bridges between families, educators, and administrators.”

McElroy said her involvement in the district community “has shown me the importance of caring for our families, jumping right in, and getting things done. I’m ready for this role, committed to our students and families, and no one will out work me.”

The OC Registrar of Voters will post updates daily at 5 p.m. as the remaining mailed-in or dropped-off ballots are counted.

Measure A, which had nearly 59% of voters support as of Tuesday night’s returns, pushes to get rid of a law the Huntington Beach City Council approved in 2023 that created rules for a proposed 21-member children’s book review board. While the board hasn’t been set up, it could relocate library books from the regular children’s section to a more restricted area that requires parental permission for children to check out those books.

Additionally, it could also block the purchase of new books if a majority of the members feel a title doesn’t meet “community standards.”

If Measure A  wins, it eliminates the law creating the review board and instead declares the director of the city’s libraries as the person in charge of setting standards for what materials the library holds.

Supporters of Measure A argued to voters that the motive behind the law amounts to banning books and silencing ideas. If they are successful, they said, it will keep parents in charge of their family’s reading choices and not politicians.

Councilmembers said the law they created is to prevent children from being exposed to “library books and/or materials that may be considered lewd or pornographic.” A vote against Measure A, they told voters, would preserve community input on what children are exposed to in city libraries.

Councilmember Gracey Van Der Mark in June 2023 ignited the issue when she proposed making a law to screen out children’s books with sexually explicit material.

Measure B, which has more than 60% of voters support, stems from when the Huntington Beach City Council considered having the library managed by a private company. If Measure B is passed, it would create a law requiring the City Council and a majority of voters in an election to approve a change in library management.

Both initiatives are supported by a grassroots group known as Our Library Matters.

The group’s campaign manager, Spencer Hagaman, said on Tuesday that he and the group of about 120 volunteers, who knocked on 10,000 doors, sent mailers and worked a phone bank, were optimistic.

“This is about fundamental American rights,” he said. “It’s a battle over something that shouldn’t be a battle.”

“Regardless of tonight’s votes, I’ll call it a win,” he added. “I’ve never seen so many Huntington Beach residents motivated. I’m proud of the work we did.”

Carol Daus, one of Our Library Matters’ many volunteers and a longtime Huntington Beach Public Library volunteer, said she was ecstatic with the early results as they came in.

“You never know in a place like Huntington Beach, it’s a conservative city and they poured a lot of money into the campaign,” she said. “It was somehow complicated with the ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ We didn’t know how many we reached. I’m just grateful if it holds. Right now, it’s looking pretty good on both measures. I feel pretty confident.”

Opponents to Measure B say it would strip the council’s ability to make financial decisions in the city’s best interest.

Among those is Mayor Pat Burns, who has been on the council since 2022, and said he was spending his evening taking down campaign signs.

He was optimistic, he said, despite the extensive campaign launched by Our Library Matters, that the council’s decisions would stand.

“People definitely don’t like the books that were put in the library for kids unmonitored by the parents,” he said. “So, I try to be optimistic. But the pro-yes people have launched a campaign that has a lot of distortions of the truth. I’m optimistic people see through it and hopeful that we’ll prevail.”

Van Der Mark, disappointed with the early returns, said she and others on the “No on Measures A and B” team were “swimming upstream,” but still vow to remain committed to protecting the community’s children.

“This won’t change that we will continue to expose what is going on in our public libraries and protect our children from it,” she said. “What we were trying to do with these measures is to bring in the community and involve them in the process.”

The OC Registrar of Voters will post updates daily at 5 p.m. as the remaining mailed-in or dropped-off ballots are counted.

Staff Writer Michael Slaten contributed to this report. 

A businesswoman and an occupational therapist are facing off in the special election that culminates on June 10 to fill the remaining term of former board trustee Michelle Barto, who was elected to the Newport Beach City Council in November.

Andrea McElroy, 55, and  Kirstin Walsh, 53, both of Newport Beach, have varied experiences in the district school.

McElroy, whose daughter is now a college senior, said she frequently volunteered during her time in the district as room mom, with theater programs and the tennis team.

Walsh has a sophomore and a senior at Newport Harbor High School and is the school’s PTA president.

Vote-by-mail ballots for the special election were sent out on May 12 to voters in the district’s Area 5; the last day to request a ballot to be mailed is June 3. The in-person voting center opens May 31 in Room 119 at Coastline College, 1515 Monrovia Ave.

A petition prompted the special election. Walsh had been appointed to the trustee seat over McElroy and other applicants by a divided school board in late January. The petition collected enough signatures to reverse the appointment and require a public vote instead.

Both candidates are in the final stretch of campaigning and say they have had fun and challenging moments.

For McElroy, a businesswoman, she said her highlight has been meeting so many people who care about the local schools.

“The most challenging has been walking and knocking on doors while recovering from a ruptured achilles,” she said. “But every mile is worth the effort to help NMUSD families.”

For Walsh, an occupational therapist, the experience of meeting and working with so many people has been amazing, she said.

“My personal growth in a world that is unfamiliar to me, with regard to politics, has been wonderful,” she said, but added that dealing with “inaccurate comments about her beliefs, values, and views” has been challenging.

Both candidates tout their experience in the district and say their background with Newport-Mesa Unified will help them make important decisions and give them a pulse on what the district most needs.

Walsh said she brings “both professional expertise in child development and lived experience as an NMUSD parent,” and her time as a volunteer at schools “taught me the importance of building bridges between families, educators, and administrators.”

McElroy said her involvement in the district community “has shown me the importance of caring for our families, jumping right in, and getting things done. I’m ready for this role, committed to our students and families, and no one will out work me.”

The Orange County Register asked the candidates a series of questions for a voter guide, here is what they said about issues facing the district.

Question: What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them?

McElroy: First and foremost, we must address student achievement. We need to know why our test scores are not where they should be, and come up with proven solutions that will directly impact academic outcomes. Is it curriculum? Teaching strategies? Is money being spent wisely to benefit the classroom? Do new literacy programs need to be introduced or teacher training improved? We have to change the academic achievement slide and we have to do it now.

Second, we need to look at spending. Do we plan responsibly to address aging campuses, school safety, and teacher training? Do we overspend on programs without proven outcomes? Do we have the right number district administrators or are we top heavy? The ROI on our spending needs to be looked at closely to see where improvements can be made that will directly address academic achievement and school safety.

Walsh: First, preparing students for life after NMUSD in both maintaining academic excellence while addressing learning recovery post-pandemic and empowering students to explore vocational, community college, and career readiness pathways. We must continue supporting our teachers with professional development and resources while ensuring rigorous curriculum standards. I’ll advocate for targeted interventions for students who need additional support and expanded enrichment opportunities.

Second, responsible and transparent spending amid declining enrollment and rising costs. It’s no secret that our district is in need of infrastructure investments, and we need strategic budget planning that prioritizes classroom instruction while building for the future of our community.

For the candidates’ answers on other topics, including the use of smartphones, artificial intelligence technology, parental notification policies and leadership, click here: Andrea McElroy and  Kristin Walsh.

Ballots must be posted marked by June 10 and there are also two secure drop boxes available 24/7. The vote center will remain open on election day from  7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Get more information on voting deadlines, locations of the drop boxes and the vote center hours at ocvote.gov/voting.

Read also: Two candidates talk priorities, leadership in special NMUSD trustee election

Name: Kirstin Walsh

City where you reside: Newport Beach

Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for heavier restrictions on smartphones in schools, pointing to studies that show the harmful effects of social media. How do you see schools restricting smartphone use? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

NMUSD led the state in restricting smartphone use in elementary and secondary schools. By listening to parents, teachers, and students, our district was able to significantly reduce distractions in the classroom so students can focus on their main goal: learning. As a parent to two students myself, I am grateful for this landmark policy and I’m pleased to hear that the governor is taking a page out of our book.

How can your district better harness artificial intelligence technology for learning while also protecting kids from another tool that can be used for bullying? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

AI technology isn’t going away. It’s important that our educators are empowered to train students to use this technology effectively and ethically. Importantly, students need to develop critical thinking skills to evaluate AI-generated content and maintain strong foundational skills in reading, writing, and problem-solving. Regarding cyberbullying concerns, we need robust digital citizenship education and policies in place to address this evolving landscape. That’s why schools across our district, such as Newport Harbor, are leading the charge to incorporate AI into the curriculum. Our job as a board is to support teachers, students, and parents in implementing these programs.

California has a new law that prohibits districts from enforcing what’s been called parental notification policies, rules for school employees to contact parents if their child may be changing their gender identity. What do you see as the role of parents in education? Is there a limitation? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

Student safety is first and foremost. Parents are primary stakeholders in their children’s education and have a fundamental role in their students’ well-being. NMUSD has always prioritized working collaboratively with families while maintaining a safe, inclusive environment for all students. My focus is on ensuring our schools provide excellent academic instruction while supporting the unique needs of every child. As a licensed pediatric occupational therapist, I know that kids grow up in lots of different kinds of situations, some not always the most safe or accepting. All students deserve to go to school in safe and supportive learning environments.

There are efforts in the state legislature to ensure schools are protected from federal immigration enforcement. Do you support these types of efforts? (Please limit your response to 250 words or less.)

Every child deserves access to quality education regardless of their background. Schools should be safe learning environments where all students can focus on academics without fear. NMUSD has always been committed to serving every student who walks through our doors. My priority is ensuring our schools remain focused on their core mission: providing excellent education. I believe in following established legal frameworks while maintaining our district’s commitment to academic excellence and student safety. Our teachers and administrators should be able to concentrate on instruction and learning, not enforcement activities outside their expertise and responsibility.

What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

First, preparing students for life after NMUSD in both maintaining academic excellence while addressing learning recovery post-pandemic and empowering students to explore vocational, community college, and career readiness pathways. We must continue supporting our teachers with professional development and resources while ensuring rigorous curriculum standards. I’ll advocate for targeted interventions for students who need additional support and expanded enrichment opportunities. Second, responsible and transparent spending amid declining enrollment and rising costs. It’s no secret that our district is in need of infrastructure investments, and we need strategic budget planning that prioritizes classroom instruction while building for the future of our community.

What experiences and priorities do you bring to the table for this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that make you the person for this job? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

As a licensed occupational therapist and mother of two Newport Harbor High School students, I bring both professional expertise in child development and lived experience as an NMUSD parent. Over a decade of volunteer leadership has taught me the importance of building bridges between families, educators, and administrators. Through serving on executive boards and foundations at Newport Elementary, Ensign Intermediate, and Newport Harbor High School, plus my current role as PTA President at Newport Harbor, I’ve learned to listen to diverse stakeholders while focusing on student outcomes. My experience with Harbor Council PTA and water polo boosters has shown me how community engagement strengthens our schools. My occupational therapy background provides valuable insight into how students learn differently and the importance of inclusive educational environments. As the daughter of a military family, I understand the value of service and bringing people together around common goals. These experiences have prepared me to advocate for academic excellence, safe campuses, and transparent communication that puts students first.

Read also: Two candidates talk priorities, leadership in special NMUSD trustee election

Name: Andrea McElroy

City where you reside: Newport Beach

Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for heavier restrictions on smartphones in schools, pointing to studies that show the harmful effects of social media. How do you see schools restricting smartphone use? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

Our schools do not permit students in preschool through 8th grade to have cell phones on campus and high school students must keep cell phones off during instruction time, with fewexceptions. I support these policies and when elected will look into their effectiveness. I also plan to focus on modeling healthy online behavior, teaching students to understand how their digital footprint stays with them, and to understand the consequences of misuse. While I fully support consequences for poor online behavior at school, I’d like to help kids understand the best and most healthy use of devices.

How can your district better harness artificial intelligence technology for learning while also protecting kids from another tool that can be used for bullying? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

I plan to prioritize AI literacy in our schools while setting clear guidelines to ensure that AI enhances learning and not replace it. Training teachers, implementing effective practices, partnering with parents and protecting data and privacy all need to be addressed to effectively use the benefits of AI without compromising standards.

Additionally, I strongly support the bipartisan Take it Down Act, signed into law in May 2025. This legislation criminalizes the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including AI-generated deep fakes, and requires social media platforms to remove such content within 24 hours of a victim’s request. The bill also establishes criminal penalties for those who threaten to publish NCII.

California has a new law that prohibits districts from enforcing what’s been called parental notification policies, rules for school employees to contact parents if their child may be changing their gender identity. What do you see as the role of parents in education? Is there a limitation? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

I do not support this law, nor do I support our district’s policy that preceded this law, which keeps secrets from parents. Schools need to ensure that if anything comes up that relates to a child’s well-being, the parents will be notified. We need our parents to trust our schools to educate students and the schools need to trust our parents to parent their children. This is as plain as day and truly unreal that state or district leaders think otherwise.

There are efforts in the state legislature to ensure schools are protected from federal immigration enforcement. Do you support these types of efforts? (Please limit your response to 250 words or less.)

Our schools are for learning and I expect that to be their focus. I don’t expect our schools to be involved in immigration issues. If immigration officials detain someone on campus, schools should ensure student safety and cooperate with law enforcement. I would expect that district officials would consult their attorneys, not interfere with an arrest, but may request to see valid warrants, verify officer credentials, and advise students of their rights.

What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

First and foremost, we must address student achievement. We need to know why our test scores are not where they should be, and come up with proven solutions that will directly impact academic outcomes. Is it curriculum? Teaching strategies? Is money being spent wisely to benefit the classroom? Do new literacy programs need to be introduced or teacher training improved? We have to change the academic achievement slide and we have to do it now.

Second, we need to look at spending. Do we plan responsibly to address aging campuses, school safety, and teacher training? Do we overspend on programs without proven outcomes? Do we have the right number district administrators or are we top heavy?

The ROI on our spending needs to be looked at closely to see where improvements can be made that will directly address academic achievement and school safety.

What experiences and priorities do you bring to the table for this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that make you the person for this job? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

My volunteer experience in my daughter’s classroom and programs for the Arts prepared me well for this role in leadership. It gave me clarity on the importance of providing a variety of ways for students to learn and a variety of ways for students to feel a sense of belonging on campus. My involvement in our community has shown me the importance of caring for our families, jumping right in, and getting things done. I’m ready for this role, committed to our students and families, and no one will out work me.

Earlier this year, a separate lawsuit alleged that Kim lied about her residency in a subsequent 2025 special election for City Council. Kim dropped out of that race as part of a settlement to end the suit, although she denied the allegation against her.

The DA’s charges relate only to the 2024 general election.

If convicted of felony perjury, Kim would be banned for life from holding public office, according to a press release from the DA’s Office.

District Attorney Todd Spitzer has charged Kim with three felony counts of perjury by declaration, three felony counts of filing a false document, one felony count of a public official aiding the illegal casting of votes, one felony count of filing false nomination papers, one felony count of knowing registration of someone not entitled to vote, one felony count of voter registration fraud and one misdemeanor count of making a false statement.

She’s scheduled to be arraigned Friday, May 23, at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.

Kim, in a phone interview Thursday evening with her attorney Caroline Hahn also on the line, said she will enter a plea of not guilty.

“I don’t have any comment at this time, on the advice of my attorney,” Kim added.

Kim served on the Irvine City Council from 2020 to 2024.

The election is a test for some of the most polarizing policies from the conservative City Council, including its push to create a review board over children’s books. Voters could also decide to make it harder for future councils to privatize the library’s operations.

In November, Huntington Beach voters approved two of three charter amendments proposed by the council, including one requiring voter ID in local elections. But no issue has symbolized the arrival of the new council in late 2022 than the libraries and the related change in direction for the city.

Measure A

Measure A calls for eliminating a law the City Council initiated last year that created the rules for a 21-member children’s book review board.

The board has not yet been formed, but it has the power to move children’s books already in the library to restricted shelves that wouldn’t allow children to check them out without a parent’s or guardian’s permission.

The board also has the power to block the library from purchasing new books that a majority of its members decide don’t meet “community standards.”

If approved, Measure A would eliminate the law creating the review board and instead would declare the director of the city’s libraries as the person in charge of setting standards for what materials the library has. Measure A also says, “The public has the right to receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral, and other ideas and experiences,” and library materials “should present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole.”

Supporters of Measure A argue the motive behind the law they want repealed was to ban books and silence ideas.

Lindsay Klick, a Huntington Beach parent and Orange County librarian, said many of the books that have already been moved to restricted shelves on an upper floor of the Central Library are puberty books.

“To me, this is shaming of girls for going through natural things like puberty,” Klick said. “And I just worry for them and for parents that feel like they’re going to have to make a trek up there just to deal with their own bodies.”

Klick said a vote for Measure A would keep parents in charge of their family’s reading choices and not politicians.

“Measure A locks parents out,” counters Councilmember Chad Williams, who joined the council after the law was passed but supports the move.

Williams said voting against Measure A would keep the power in the community instead of it being reverted to an unelected librarian.

Councilmembers said the law they created is to prevent children from being exposed to “library books and/or materials that may be considered lewd or pornographic.” A vote against Measure A, they say, will preserve community input on what children are exposed to in city libraries.

Councilmember Gracey Van Der Mark in June 2023 ignited the issue when she proposed making a law to screen out children’s books with sexually explicit material.

Williams pointed to “Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human” that says viewing pornography online can help people discover new aspects of their sexuality as a book in the nonfiction young adult collection of the library that teenagers can check out and shouldn’t be able to without parental permission.

Opponents of Measure A have argued more broadly that the review board will give residents an opportunity to instill values that align with community values in public libraries funded by taxpayers. Huntington Beach, council members have said, is the first city in the state to take action on getting parents more involved.

A lawsuit challenging the law in court is holding up the city from finally forming the board, Williams said.

Measure B

Measure B would make it harder for the library’s operations to be privatized after the City Council solicited bids from contractors in the past to manage the libraries.

Last year, the City Council explored having a private company manage the library system to save money. In response, a community group gathered signatures for what would become Measure B. The ballot initiative would create a law requiring both the City Council and then a majority of voters in an election to approve a change in management of the libraries.

Supporters said Measure B gives residents the final say over what happens to the city’s libraries and sends the message that public libraries aren’t for sale.

“Voting YES sends a strong message to politicians and for-profit corporations: our public libraries are not for sale,” supporters wrote in ballot arguments. “Simply put, our libraries benefit every resident, are a resource to our entire community, and must remain public and available to all.”

The council ended its discussions last year on the privatizing of the library’s operations after the sole bidder withdrew from consideration.

Opponents to Measure B say it would strip the council’s ability to make financial decisions in the city’s best interest.

“By voting no on this measure, the people of the city of Huntington Beach will preserve the City Council’s ability to protect our city budget and preserve the City Council’s decision-making authority to manage our libraries as necessary,” a group of three councilmembers wrote asking voters to reject Measure B.

Vote centers open May 31

Voters can return their ballots by mail or at a drop box, but mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than June 10 and received by June 17.

A first wave of vote centers will open on May 31, with the rest opening up on June 7, three days before the election. The City Council must declare whether each measure was approved or rejected by July 4. For more information on voting, visit ocvote.gov.

The OC Registrar of Voters won’t update counting again until 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Martinez Franco runs a boutique public affairs firm and holds a master’s degree in public administration from USC.

She was leading the race at the end of the night ahead of former councilmember Anthony Kuo by 322 votes. Dana Cornelius, an HOA board member, is in a distant third.

Kuo said in a statement he had reached out Tuesday night to congratulate Martinez Franco.

“Tonight, we concluded a spirited campaign for City Council, but came up short,” he said. “I just reached out to Betty Martinez Franco to offer my congratulations, and I wish her the best as she works to lead and represent District 5 on the City Council. Her success as a councilwoman will translate into Irvine’s success as a thriving community.”

Irvine’s Fifth District includes Woodbridge, University Park and other neighborhoods straddling the 405 Freeway.

The special election is deciding who will fill the newly expanded Irvine City Council’s seventh seat through 2026. The position is open because Larry Agran vacated his at-large council seat after winning his election for mayor in November.

Upon seeing the first results dropped, Martinez Franco said she was shocked.

“I cannot believe it,” she said. “This is the most exciting thing that has ever happened in my life. I have to call my mom and dad in Mexico to let them know.”

Martinez Franco, who was born in Monterrey, Mexico, said she could become the first Latina to serve on Irvine’s council. She said she thought her being a political newcomer resonated with voters.

“I am not a politician,” she said. “I did my masters in public administration because I wanted to understand how government works, but voters know I’ve not been a politician. I haven’t been swayed by any investors or anything like that.”

“They can see I am real, I am transparent and I really care about my community,” she added. “To tell you the truth, it’s a breath of fresh air knowing that a Latina was well-received in a city where a Latino or Latina has never had a voice on the City Council.”

During her campaign, Martinez Franco said she sees traffic congestion, public safety, small business support and cost of living as the biggest issues facing Irvine.

“As a small business owner myself, I understand the challenges entrepreneurs face,” she said in a questionnaire with The Orange County Register. “That is why I will push for business-friendly policies, streamline permit processes and create more incentives for local businesses to set up shop in Irvine.”

“My priorities have not changed,” she said Tuesday night. “I want to work on housing affordability, bringing more small businesses to Irvine, addressing traffic patterns and adding bike lanes and e-bike safety programs.”

In-person polling opened on April 5 at Irvine City Hall; additional polling centers opened earlier this week. Ballots were mailed out last month.

Election night caps off what had been an unusual council race for a couple of reasons.

For one, the winner will be filling a district-elected seat for a term that was started by a citywide-elected representative in 2024.

In 2024, when Irvine voters approved the ballot measure to switch the City Council from citywide to district representation, the measure laid out this contingency plan should an at-large seat become open — in this case, Agran’s mayoral win.

The city’s new election system staggered the rollout of the district elections — and increased the council’s size from five to seven members with the mayor still elected by a citywide vote.  In November, the first four district seats were decided, with the District 5 and District 6 seats set for the 2026 election.

The race took another unusual turn after former councilmember Tammy Kim dropped out in February amid a lawsuit challenging her residency in the district.

Other than the mayor, Councilmember Kathleen Treseder is Irvine’s last at-large representative.

She was elected in  2022 in a race where she (and Agran) defeated Kuo, who finished third in a crowded field for two council seats.

Treseder’s at-large seat is due for election in 2026, and it will become the race for Irvine’s District 6 seat — finally completing the city’s transition from at-large to district-elected council representation.

“There is no showing that a voter identification requirement compromises the integrity of a municipal election,” Orange County Superior Court Judge Nico Dourbetas wrote in his ruling.

Mayor Pat Burns called the ruling “a huge victory” for Huntington Beach and charter cities throughout California. Huntington Beach officials argue being a charter city allows local leaders greater control over city elections.

The city is fighting to protect the voter-approved Measure A, but its court win this week likely won’t put an end to the case. The state attorney general’s office has already said it will appeal the decision. This is the second time in the case that Dourbetas has ruled against the state.

“Yet again, we believe the Orange County Superior Court got it wrong,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. “Now that we have a final order from the Orange County Superior Court, we look forward to moving on and appealing the decision. We remain confident that Measure A will ultimately be struck down.”

Lee Fink, an attorney for Mark Bixby, a resident who sued separately to block the law, said they, too, would appeal after the judge ruled against their suit as well.

“While we are disappointed in the trial court’s ruling, all parties knew that the case would ultimately be decided at the appellate level,” Fink said Monday. “We are confident that the appellate courts will reverse the trial court and stop the city’s unconstitutional and ideologically-driven voter ID requirements.”

Voters in March 2024 approved Measure A, which added language to Huntington Beach’s charter allowing the city to “verify the eligibility of electors by voter identification” beginning in 2026.

The state attorney general’s office filed its lawsuit to stop Huntington Beach a year ago, saying the law was illegal and would confuse voters and disrupt election planning.

A three-judge panel in the Fourth District Court of Appeal, which took an early look at the arguments in the case in February, had described the city’s argument that “it had a constitutional right to regulate its own municipal elections free from state interference” as “problematic.” The panel had asked the Superior Court judge to reconsider his earlier ruling.

Judge Dourbetas heard oral arguments over the voter ID law on Thursday. In Monday’s ruling, Dourbetas wrote that the “challenged charter provision does not violate the right to vote and does not implicate the integrity of the electoral process.”

“While we anticipate this fight isn’t over, we are pleased with the court’s fair and just evaluation of the weakness of the state and Bixby’s legal case,” City Attorney Mike Vigliotta said in a statement.

Attorneys for the state argued that the voter ID law is prohibited by state law that says local governments can’t require voters “to present identification for the purpose of voting or submitting a ballot at any polling place.”

The city argued that the state prohibition on voter ID requirements doesn’t explicitly apply to city elections that aren’t consolidated with statewide elections.

“The court got it wrong,” said Secretary of State Shirley Weber in a statement. “Access to the ballot box is a key component of our democracy. The court’s order is in direct conflict with California election laws and will result in disenfranchising California voters.”

An attorney for the state last week said if Huntington Beach is allowed to proceed with its voter ID law, it could end up with Huntington Beach holding separate city elections that aren’t consolidated and voters receiving two different ballots and needing to go to separate polling places.

City leaders have not detailed how they plan to implement the law.