Student Government announced the students who claimed their Senate seats by way of write-in votes and final vote tallies in all races Monday, after initially announcing Finance Director Martin Hursh and Vice President Quinn Margrett won the presidential election alongside all 18 balloted Senate candidates vying for 36 seats.
A total of 3,412 students participated in the 2024 Student Government election which is an estimated 12.1% of all eligible voters. The vote total was an increase from the 1,974 votes a year ago.
Presidential election
In a statement sent to the Daily, Hursh, a sophomore in economics, and Margrett, a sophomore in business economics, jointly stated their “sincere gratitude” to the students who voted for their campaign.
“At our inauguration on April 9th, we’ll announce a complete set of cabinet nominees so we can hit the ground running. That same evening, we’ll sign an executive order establishing a food insecurity task force. Our pursuit to a better college experience starts the moment we are sworn in,” their joint statement said.
Also in a statement sent to the Daily, the opposing presidential ticket represented by President Jennifer Holliday, a senior in agricultural studies, and Sen. Sydney Jones, a junior in political science, stated that they are “dishearted” by the outcome but “remain steadfast” in their commitment to Student Government.
“We know that any student can make an impact in this organization, no matter the title you have. Student Government will continue to shape the future of Cyclone’s experiences here at Iowa State so long as its members remain passionate, which is why we will continue to serve in capacities, such as Senate,” their joint statement said.
Senate elections
The Senate will begin its new session with nine vacancies across five constituencies after write-in candidates declined to fill the role. The College of Veterinary Medicine and Schilletter and University Village Apartments will have no senators.
The College of Human Sciences had no balloted candidates and “NA” received the most write-in votes with four, resulting in a 45-way one-vote tie behind Samantha Jones who received two votes.
The write-in candidates who will serve in the Senate are:
- Nathan Kwiatkowski, College of Engineering
- Alexander Pallan, College of Engineering
- Reidl Weaver, Graduate College
- Muhammad Azhan, Graduate College
- Samantha Jones, College of Human Sciences
- Kathleen Pelzer, College of Human Sciences
- Tadiwa Mbuwayesango, College of Business
- Jonathan Nevenhoven, College of Business
- Hemanthsai Peddasani, Inter-Residence Hall Association
