The Editorial Board’s Fall 2026 ASUCD Senate endorsements

Our top six Senator picks in this quarter’s elections

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD 

The window to cast your vote in this week’s elections for the Associated Students of the University of California, Davis (ASUCD) is now open. Until this Friday, Nov. 6, at 11:59 p.m., you can submit your votes to fill the six open seats at the ASUCD Senate table. 

The California Aggie’s Editorial Board implores you to exercise your right to vote this election season — ASUCD has a large hand in how your student fees are allocated, and you deserve to have representatives who support your needs and best interests. 

We invited all 15 Senate candidates for an interview, and our endorsements reflect those who we believe will best represent the UC Davis student body. The Editorial Board chose to endorse six candidates for the six open Senate seats. 

Regardless of who you cast your vote for this week, it is important to utilize your voice in this election. Fall ASUCD elections have a comparatively low turnout to the spring elections, so we especially encourage you to participate and cast your vote this week. 

Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name.

Here are the Editorial Board’s endorsements for the Fall 2025 ASUCD election cycle: 

Grant Cole, second-year international relations major — STFU Slate 

Cole’s campaign focuses on prioritizing basic needs — a goal he shares with his fellow STFU slate members. He plans to codify basic needs into the ASUCD Constitution, represent student workers and create more connection between the student senate and the City of Davis. His prior experience includes serving as Chief of Staff for Senator Little. 

The Editorial Board appreciated Cole’s reflection on his ultimately unsuccessful Spring 2026 campaign, which has led to a renewed emphasis on listening to the students he seeks to represent and being willing to see ideas differently. He came prepared with specific examples of budgetary changes and ways to seek funding for basic needs. Cole also demonstrated a knowledge of past Senate activities, and says he hopes to bring back collaborations between ASUCD and the City of Davis — a partnership this Board would like to see revived.

“I think [basic needs] provide the backbone for students here,” Cole said. “I think we should really be focused on acting as that backbone and making students' lives as easy as possible so they can learn who they are in college [...] rather than having to worry about where their next meal comes from.”

Harshpartap Dhillon, third-year biology major — Avanza Slate 

Of all the candidates in this week’s election, none have more experience on the table than Dhillon. We appreciated his understanding of the need for collaboration and compromise to serve effectively within ASUCD — qualities with which he has already proven himself adept. Dhillon is also extremely knowledgeable about the inner workings of ASUCD and recognizes that the role of a good Senator extends beyond a weekly meeting.

Dhillon plans to prioritize cultural representation for all communities as well as affordability for transportation, basic needs and academic opportunities, goals that he shares with his fellow Avanza slate members. 

The Editorial Board appreciated the experience that Dhillon brings to the table as well as his reflection on his past role as an ASUCD Senator. Dhillon emphasized accountability within the Senate and finding ways to create tangible changes for the UC Davis student body. 

“We should always be asking ourselves whether the time that we’re spending is translating into meaningful benefits for the students we serve,” Dhillon said. 

Dali Y. Guerrero Fernández, third-year political science and chicana/o/x studies double major — Avanza Slate

The Editorial Board rarely endorses incoming students in the fall election, but transfer student Guerrero Fernández was so impressive that we feel motivated to support her campaign. Running on the Avanza slate, she aims to uplift marginalized student voices and strengthen relationships between student groups.

Guerrero Fernández shared thoughtful perspectives on the difficulties undocumented students face with work authorization and intends to increase opportunities with her current involvement at Davis in the Undocuscholars Advocacy and Aid Committee. She hopes to create outreach programs that support transfer students and a campus readiness plan for emergency situations in response to local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity — goals we think are achievable by the Senate and incredibly prescient.

The Editorial Board was impressed with her experience in student government as a youth commissioner and her internships with city council offices in San Jose. When Guerrero Fernández served as an Equity and Diversity Senator at De Anza College, she successfully allocated funds to underrepresented groups and basic needs services. Guerrero Fernández’s recognition of the need for a balance between passing legislation and community interaction makes her a standout candidate — especially as an incoming student.

Nate Little, second-year political science and history double major — STFU Slate

For the second year in a row, the Editorial Board is impressed with Little’s well-curated ideas and thorough understanding of the inner workings of the Association. When we first endorsed him last fall, we hoped that experience on the Senate table would refine his campus knowledge and give him an opportunity to put his skills into practice — it’s clear that it has. 

If reelected, Little aims to prevent funding cuts to ASUCD’s basic needs services. His campaign emphasizes the importance of removing barriers to access at The Pantry, Housing Advising for Undergraduate Students (HAUS), the Student Health and Wellness (SHAW) unit and other important resources — especially during continued federal cuts to welfare programs that many students rely on. We appreciate his focus on student wellbeing and his intention to shift Senators’ priorities toward the health of the student body.

Little’s year in ASUCD has honed his campaign philosophy, and he shared with us thoughtful plans on improving efficiency and outreach within the Senate, showing a nuanced knowledge of the Association’s relationship with the campus community and a clear drive to advocate for the student body. 

We hope that a second year at the table would allow Little to put more of his ideas into motion. 

“At the end of the day, it’s about caring,” Little said. “We can be dreaming a little bit bigger.”

Tatiana Eden Ochoa, second-year political science, cognitive science and philosophy triple major — Independent 

Ochoa’s platform is built around the principles of transportation, equity and opportunity. Her passion for the issues facing student transportation and prioritization of Unitrans workers demonstrate her commitment to improving transit for students and the workers who keep it running. She displayed enthusiasm for ensuring students’ basic needs are met and emphasized tangible means of improving student life. 

The Editorial Board was impressed with Ochoa’s extensive experience in public service. Ochoa has worked in a district senator’s office and political consulting firm, developing skills in research and working with people. Ochoa served as a School Board Member for San Bernardino School District, where she represented 44,000 students and gained a thorough understanding of the tangible impacts of legislative processes, including the effects of Title I and Title IX on schools and students. 

Ochoa’s experience also shows a commitment to student wellness. She worked at the  community development collective Uplift San Bernardino, where she focused on youth career development, and is a peer mentor for first-generation students through the UC Davis Student Transition and Retention (STaR) Program. We think her commitment to civic service will translate well to the position of ASUCD Senator.

Lia Washington, fourth-year political science major — Empowered Slate 

As a transfer student, Washington decided to run on the basis of improving the accessibility of basic needs services, student safety and transparency between ASUCD and the general student population. Washington displayed a thorough understanding of the Association’s internal processes; her passion and knowledge surrounding the issues presented in her campaign make her a strong and compelling candidate. 

Washington was previously involved in student government at De Anza College, where she served as a student government liaison and led a program educating students on how to interact with ICE agents. She has also worked with various grassroots organizations, labor councils and legislative offices. At UC Davis, she served on the Ethnic & Cultural Affairs Commission and worked in former ASUCD Senator Jaliah Payne’s office.

The Editorial Board appreciated Washington’s focus on sexual violence prevention and student safety — a campaign focus which sets her apart from many of the other candidates on the ballot. We endorsed Washington during her last run in spring and continue to think that she will be a strong addition to the Senate table.

Constitutional Amendment #99: Make Student Advocate an appointed, not an elected, position — Endorse yes

We think CA#99 provides an important safeguard in the Student Advocate’s Office (SAO), ensuring that the Student Advocate themselves is equipped, informed and trained for the role. Unlike other elected positions in ASUCD, the student advocate is nonpartisan — their job is to oversee independent case management services for students dealing with disputes with the university. While this amendment would make the student advocate an appointed position, and therefore take the decision away from the hands of the students, we believe this is a fair tradeoff to keep the SAO an effective service.

Constitutional Amendment #100: Condense the ASUCD Elections schedule from two elections per school year in fall and spring quarters to a singular annual election in spring — Abstain from endorsing

CA#100 is promising, and the election reforms it proposes could very well serve to increase student turnout in the ASUCD elections process. However, the Editorial Board has chosen to abstain from endorsing the amendment pending the review process underway by the ASUCD Judicial Council over its possible violation of ASUCD’s governing documents.

Written by: The Editorial Board — opinion@theaggie.org