 He founded and served as the first president of the Orange County Chapter of the Federalist Society.In 2013, he sought election to the California State Senate to succeed Mimi Walters, who was elected to the United States House of Representatives the prior year.He lost the special election to Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach

He won the 2016 Irvine mayoral election, and won reelection in the 2018 Irvine mayoral election.