Arash Sayadi of CalRCV addresses a crowd of 40+ Irvine residents who gathered on September 13 to formally launch Voter Choice Irvine’s “Yes on D” campaign in support of ranked choice voting for Irvine municipal elections. (Photo Credit: Frank Sonata)
Community leaders and cross-partisan organizations join forces to ensure majority rule, expand voter choice, and protect local taxpayers
September 28, 2026
IRVINE, Calif. — Momentum for Measure D is building across Irvine as a broad coalition of over 50 elected officials, civic organizations, and community leaders unite to support the November ballot measure. If approved by voters, Measure D will implement ranked choice voting (RCV) for future municipal elections, ensuring winning candidates secure a true majority of support rather than prevailing with a fraction of the electorate.
The coalition is uniting groups across the political spectrum: U.S. Representative Dave Min and California State Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris head a roster of prominent local leaders, both elected and appointed. On the organizational front, key supporters include trusted nonpartisan voter advocacy groups like the League of Women Voters, Veterans for All Voters, and FairVote. Demonstrating the measure’s broad consensus appeal, the Democratic Party of Orange County and almost all smaller parties active in Orange County – including the Green Party and the Libertarian Party of California – have formally endorsed Measure D. A list of endorsers is included at the bottom of the release.
“Our democracy works best when voters have a real voice in who represents them. Ranked choice voting will give Irvine voters more choice and more voice, and make our local democracy stronger,” says U.S. Representative Dave Min. “Ranked choice voting is a commonsense, proven reform that brings people together rather than driving them apart. If you want to protect the city from the kind of partisan extremism we have been driven to in Washington, vote Yes on Measure D.”
Ranked Choice Voting: Bringing voter choice, balance, and majority rule to City Hall
Measure D delivers a practical solution to a long-standing structural flaw in Irvine’s election system: candidates routinely win office with less than 40% of the vote.
“When an elected official takes office with barely a third of the vote, the system is clearly broken,” said Branda Lin, Campaign Director for Voter Choice Irvine. “Passing Measure D will restore majority rule to our city. Ranked choice voting guarantees every vote counts, gives voters more choice without fear of vote-splitting, and ensures our elected officials truly represent the majority of Irvine residents.”
In a ranked choice election, voters can rank the candidates they like in order of preference. If your candidate has a chance to win, your vote stays with them. If not, your vote counts for your next choice. The process repeats until someone wins an actual majority.
Ranked choice voting rewards candidates who appeal to a broader electorate, not just a narrow political base. Candidates need majority support to win, and seek second- and third-choice support from voters ranking another candidate first. These incentives discourage extreme positions and toxic campaigning, reward consensus-builders. RCV has been used successfully across California municipalities for over twenty years, with studies showing voters overwhelmingly understand and like ranked choice voting.
Crucially, Measure D includes strict taxpayer safeguards: by law, RCV will only be implemented if the cost remains under a quarter of one percent of the city budget, capping costs and protecting tax dollars.
If approved by voters, Measure D directs the City of Irvine to transition to RCV starting in 2028, provided the financial parameters are met.
Voting takes place in the upcoming General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
For more information on the campaign, voter resources, or how Ranked Choice Voting works, visit voterchoiceirvine.org.
To endorse Measure D, please email info@voterchoiceirvine.org.
For comment, contact Branda Lin, (949) 701-0629, branda@voterchoiceirvine.org.
Key Endorsements Supporting Measure D
Elected Officials & Community Leaders
- Dave Min, U.S. Representative
- Cottie Petrie-Norris, California State Assemblymember
- Kathleen Treseder, Irvine City Councilmember
- Betty Martinez Franco, Irvine City Councilmember
Political Organizations & Parties
- Democratic Party of Orange County
- Libertarian Party of California
- Green Party of Orange County
- Orange County Democratic Socialists of America
- California Working Families Party
- Peace & Freedom Party of America
Civil Society Organizations
- League of Women Voters of Orange County
- Veterans for All Voters
- FairVote
- Climate Action Campaign
- United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 6
- UC Irvine Faculty Association
For a complete listing, visit voterchoiceirvine.org/endorsements.
