ASU's 2025-26 Election Results: Shocking Upsets and Controversial Choices That Could Change Everything!

The Associated Students of ASU Elections Department has unveiled the results for the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) and Graduate Student Government (GSG) elections, thereby setting the leadership for the 2026-27 academic year. The initial voting period took place from April 1-2, following two weeks of campaigning. However, elections for the USG Downtown executive positions and Senate seats for USG Tempe and USG West Valley were declared compromised on April 8, necessitating a re-run.

New Leaders for a New Year

The elections brought forward a diverse group of candidates, each with unique platforms aimed at enhancing student life across various campuses.

USG Tempe

Three tickets contended for the USG Tempe executive positions, with the Solomon ticket winning decisively at 55.82% of the vote. The Ragland ticket garnered 28.08%, while the Chan ticket received 16.09%. Solomon Tyler, a junior majoring in finance, will serve as the USGT student body president, supported by Maddie Cicenia, a sophomore also studying finance, as the vice president of services, and Brooke Arneson, a junior in biomedical engineering, as the vice president of policy. Tyler emphasized the ticket’s commitment to transparency, stating, “This team serves as a voice for the students, and a liaison between the student body, administration, and organizations on campus.”

USG Downtown

At USG Downtown, the Tedoco ticket secured victory with 57.47% of the votes, while the Ritchie ticket received 42.53%. Rei Tedoco, a junior studying journalism and mass communication, will take on the role of USGD student body president. Adrian Ortiz, a sophomore majoring in public service and public policy, will serve as the vice president of services, and Naomi Inegbenedion, a junior studying healthcare administration and policy, will assume the role of vice president of policy. Tedoco’s platform focuses on promoting opportunity and increasing awareness of campus resources. He remarked, “I am a first-generation college student, and I would say this means a lot, given the fact that I can advocate for so many different students and bring that community.”

USG West Valley

Meanwhile, the Mionske ticket ran unopposed at USG West Valley. Sara Mionske, a junior studying psychology, will be the USGWV student body president, with Anna Lugo Ortecho, a sophomore in psychology and political science, as the vice president of services, and Mikah Dyer, a sophomore studying secondary education and political science, as the vice president of policy. Mionske stated that her campaign focused on transparency and building relationships with students, emphasizing the importance of making college affordable and accessible. “It’s important for students to know that there are representatives here for them,” she said.

USG Polytechnic

The Ortiz-Gonzalez ticket similarly ran unopposed at USG Polytechnic, with Roberto Ortiz-Gonzalez, a sophomore studying engineering, stepping in as the USGP student body president. Clare Wiegman, a junior in aeronautical management technology, will serve as the vice president of services, and Praghathi Arun Senthil, a sophomore studying human systems engineering, will take on the role of vice president of policy. Ortiz-Gonzalez highlighted his commitment to making student resources more visible and accessible. He stated, “I love ASU, and I look forward to working with students and faculty to help uplift and make Polytechnic even better than it already is.”

Graduate Student Government (GSG)

In the GSG elections, Tharun Goud Dasugari won with 62.07% of the votes, while Onkar Vachista Falle received 37.93%. Dasugari, a graduate student studying management of technology, expressed his aim to make GSG more visible and to expand access to resources available to graduate students. “We feel that the opportunity to serve the student body, understanding the resources, helping them whenever required, gives a sense of responsibility,” he noted. Debadatta Jena, also a graduate student studying public administration, will serve as vice president of external affairs, and Sai Sagar Galli Raghu, a graduate student in data science, analytics, and engineering, will take on the vice president of campus engagement role.

These elections mark a pivotal moment for ASU's student governance, reflecting a commitment to transparency, advocacy, and active engagement among students. The newly elected officials are now tasked with addressing the diverse needs of their constituents and enhancing the overall student experience. As they embark on their leadership roles, the focus will undoubtedly be on implementing their campaign promises and fostering a more connected and supportive campus environment.

For continued updates on student governance and other campus news, reach the reporter at [email protected].

Kaitlyn Smitten is a politics reporter for The State Press. This is her first semester at The State Press after serving as a staff writer and correspondent for the Berkeley Beacon at Emerson College. She is a third-year Political Science major with a minor in Writing, Rhetorics, and Literacies.