ASUCD Spring 2026 Elections: Meet the Candidates

Meet the candidates and learn about the ballot measures up for a vote in this week’s election

By AALIYAH ESPAÑOL-RIVAS, LILY KENROW, VINCE BASADA and THOMAS WU — campus@theaggie.org 

The spring 2026 ASUCD elections, which run from April 20 to 24, offer students an opportunity to decide on the next leaders of their student government. This cycle includes one executive ticket, two student advocate candidates, three international student representative (ISR) candidates, three transfer student representative (TSR) candidates and 12 Senate candidates. There are also two ballot measures, which are Constitutional Amendments for approval by the student body. Also, due to last-minute changes to the ballot, there are no candidates running for the position of external affairs vice president (EAVP).

This election, there are three slates — groups of candidates running on a similar, shared platform. They are: Viva, Bitchier and Sawt. There were two other slates which have dissolved since campaigning began. The Diva slate’s two candidates are no longer running for office; both were senate candidates. More publicly, the Vision slate dissolved after it was revealed that its candidate for ASUCD president — Aaron Heth, a third-year political science major and current senator — had attended a conference funded by conservative non-profit Turning Point USA (TPUSA). Heth and his running mate Sean Birge, alongside the Vision candidate for EAVP, have dropped out of the race. The slate’s remaining candidates are now running as Independents.

ASUCD elections use a ranked-choice voting system, where voters can rank as many or as few of the candidates based on preference. Voting began Monday, April 20 and ballots are open through Friday, April 24. Students can vote online now at elections.ucdavis.edu.

Executive Ticket: President and Internal Vice President

The ASUCD president and internal vice president (IVP) are the two most senior jobs in the student government. The former serves as ASUCD’s chief executive officer and the top official representative of the undergraduate student body. They are responsible for overseeing ASUCD units and are tasked with the appointment of officials and unit directors, including the ASUCD controller (the chief financial officer). They also play a large role in drafting the Association’s budget and have the sole authority to make legally binding contracts on behalf of the ASUCD, subject to ratification by the ASUCD Senate.

The IVP manages the student government’s internal operations and the onboarding and oversight of personnel. They are also the presiding officer of the ASUCD Senate and chair several committees related to the Association’s operations.

This election, ASUCD’s top race is uncontested following the dissolution of the Vision slate and the withdrawal of its executive ticket from the ballot.

Luis Leonardo Garcia, a third-year political science and Chicano studies major, and Rosa Linda Martinez, a third-year sociology — organizational studies major, Viva slate

Garcia and Martinez are no strangers to ASUCD. Garcia served as an interim senator in fall 2024, was elected for a full term in spring 2025 and has served as the senate president pro tempore. Martinez served as the chairperson of the UndocuScholars Advocacy and Aid Committee (UAA) and was a staff member in Garcia’s office before being elected as a senator herself in fall 2025. 

The two are running uncontested on the Viva slate, which was created with the intent of representing multiple diverse perspectives; each slate member has experience within organizations on campus. The “v” in “Viva” stands for “visibility and longevity,” “i” stands for “increasing opportunities,” the second “v” stands for “voice student engagement” and the “a” stands for “acts and action.” Their aim is to increase student engagement with ASUCD as a whole, supplementing the number of academic and professional opportunities on campus and amplifying student voices. Specifically, the two hope to implement new fellowship and internship programs within ASUCD that can be noted on official university transcripts. 

They also plan on continuing and expanding the several Executive Office Taskforces, including the Student Activist Taskforce, Menstrual Equity Taskforce and the Equitable Parking Initiative. Additionally, the pair say they are guided by the idea that they are advocating with students, not for students. They want to create a comfortable environment for students to speak up on issues that matter to them.

“We do pride ourselves in knowing our roots and where we come from,” Garcia said. “That’s what grounds our leadership and grounds the work we do. We have the lived experience, passion and dedication to serve all our students on campus.”

Student Advocate

The student advocate is the head of the Student Advocate Office (SAO), which provides free and confidential advising and case management services for students dealing with disputes with the university. The SAO is a nonpartisan division of ASUCD, and student advocate candidates cannot run with a slate. The student advocate serves for a 1-year term.

RajAmrit Baidwan

Third-year, human biology major

Baidwan is running for student advocate because she wants all students to have safe spaces and be able to advocate for themselves. She hopes to create inclusive environments and work to connect administrators to students. In high school, she created an inclusivity club where she advocated for addressing injustices in her community. She wants to amplify student voices and give students the opportunity to stand up for and advocate for themselves. 

“I’m hoping to build community through new relations, through listening to stories, through advocating for people and helping them advocate for themselves,” Baidwan said.

Salma Mahmodi

First-year, political science public service major

Mahmodi is running on a platform of ensuring students are aware of the SAO as a resource. Through her time working as a case advisor at SAO, she has gained various leadership and research experiences and seen some gaps within the office she hopes to improve and address.  

She also hopes to take proactive steps in addressing referrals to the Office of Student Conduct and Integrity and the SAO itself. Additionally, Mahmodi wants to increase awareness and clarity of the university’s academic policies, especially on the use of artificial intelligence — an increasingly common reason for referrals.

“[The role] is ensuring due process so that every student who is actively engaging with the conduct process is not facing any discrimination,” Mahmodi said.

International Student Representative

The International Student Representative (ISR) heads the Office of the ISR and is responsible for advocating for students who have come to study at UC Davis from foreign countries. As of fall 2025, some 12% of the undergraduate student body are international students. The ISR also has a voting seat on the Senate and votes on legislation and spending bills; they serve a 1-year term.

Kainat Basharmal

First-year international relations major, Independent

Basharmal understands the difficulties of adjusting to a new environment, language and culture, having moved from Afghanistan to Germany to the United States. She hopes to create multicultural celebrations for all students and cultures as well as increase language accessibility programs. She is proposing the creation of ASUCD tutoring and career support services in different languages and has experience creating a similar multilingual program at her high school.

Basharmal also wants to increase awareness of different resources, opportunities and overall awareness of ASUCD to the international student community and use her voice to advocate for student issues. 

“I just want to be of assistance,” Basharmal said. “I want to not only mentally reassure [international students] that everything's gonna be fine, but also try and help to ensure that their rights are protected.”

Shaina Taebi

Second-year political science and philosophy double major, Sawt slate

Taebi’s background as a first-generation, Iranian American immigrant compels her advocacy for international student safety and community resources. She points to ongoing international conflict in many students’ home countries and shifts in federal policy jeopardizing residency statuses for many Middle Eastern international students in particular.

Her work shadowing an immigration attorney, translating documents for Farsi-speaking asylum seekers and running her KDVS90.3FM radio show “The Missing Middle East” has led Taebi to adopt an immigrant focus to her student advocacy ambitions. Her platform includes expanding on-campus legal resources for students, prioritizing international student community connections and representation. She previously served as an interim ASUCD senator in fall quarter 2025. 

“I want to be active,” Taebi said. “I want to be present. I want to be a representative for the students, someone that would advocate for voices and is ready and willing to listen to them.”

Maretta Ardelia

Third-year managerial economics major, Viva slate

Ardelia takes the Viva slate’s motto — “breaking barriers and building opportunities” — to heart. As an international student from Indonesia, Ardelia wants to represent the students she relates to. She is the former vice president of the Indonesian Student Association and the current head of finance at both Phi Gamma Nu and the Managerial Economics Society.

Her platform includes building student communities, showcasing cultural diversity and advocating for mental health for those transitioning to life at UC Davis. She hopes to create a night market/festival for different student organizations and groups to celebrate their diverse cultures, in a potential collaboration with the Entertainment Council (EC). She is also proposing an ASUCD language immersion program for students.

“I feel and I believe that community is a strong foundation for someone who is starting their life,” Ardelia said.

Transfer Student Representative

The Transfer Student Representative (TSR) oversees an office dedicated to advocating for transfer students, re-entry students, student parents and veteran students — a constituency which makes up about 20% of the undergraduate student body. Like the ISR, the TSR also has a voting seat on the ASUCD Senate and serves a 1-year term.

Amadeusz Sanchez

Third-year political science major, Independent

Sanchez is running to further foster community among transfer students and increase equity for resources on campus. Sanchez transferred from De Anza College, where he co-founded their Model United Nations club. He says that experience taught him how to manage a budget, organize events and advocate for registered student organizations (RSOs). 

He wants to better connect transfer students to RSOs and regularly update the Office of the TSR website for internship and community building opportunities. Sanchez hopes to do more student outreach via social media, with regular monthly surveys and find out what the Office can do for students.  

“As TSR, I will actually put in the effort and work as much as I really can to support students in every single power the Office of the TSR has,” Sanchez said. “I pull on every lever that I can, whether it be weekly Senate meetings or the ability to reach out to campus administration.”

Livreet Kaur Sandhu

Third-year political science major, Viva slate

Sandhu previously served as an interim senator in fall quarter 2025 and is running as a part of the Viva slate because of their diversity of perspectives and because all of its members’ campaigns are rooted in community representation and advocacy. 

Sandhu is running on a platform of support for her fellow transfer students, equitable access to basic needs resources and community representation. She says that her experience in the fall gave her an understanding of what representation was needed in the Association. She hopes to advocate for all student voices and a diverse set of perspectives, but especially her own Punjabi Sikh community. 

“I’m really proud to represent my community,” Sandhu said. “Above all else I think that’s what drives me the most to really advocate for underserved communities — for minority communities.”

Fayrouz Mishak

Third-year political science major, Sawt slate

Mishak is running as a part of the Sawt slate because she is passionate about supporting students and uplifting their voices, as well as increasing representation for Middle Eastern students. She transferred from Diablo Valley College, and her platform includes expanding and supporting basic needs for transfer students, along with student parents, student veterans and re-entry students. She also wants to prioritize helping transfer students access resources for post-grad opportunities and find community. 

Additionally, Mishak is interested in expanding student safety initiatives on campus by holding “Know Your Rights” sessions, expanding the alert system for students and by updating safety protocols. Her experience includes creating a club at her high school, the Global Student Union, which aimed to help bridge the gap between first-generation students and their families and college advising resources. 

“I am a person of integrity who will stand very firmly on the values that I say I believe in,” Mishak said. “I owe it to [the students] to show them that they weren’t mistaken in giving me that trust and actually properly representing them in ASUCD.”

Senators

ASUCD senators are tasked with voting on legislation and bills, deciding on the allocation of the Association’s budget, advocating and representing the undergraduate student body to administrators and overseeing and supporting ASUCD’s units, commissions and committees. There are 12 senators at any given time — six are elected in fall and another six are elected in spring. Senators serve 1-year terms.

Bitchier Slate:

Lucia Holmboe

Third-year political science major

Holmboe is running on a platform of expanding accessibility to basic needs resources, especially menstrual equity and safer-sex resources. In addition, she wants to support local and student art and music programming, hoping to serve as an inclusive voice for all students. She is a part of the Bitchier slate, which focuses on female empowerment and leadership, and is a campaign coordinator for the ASUCD external affairs vice president (EAVP).

She hopes to work closely with the Gender and Sexuality Commission, the Sexual Assault Awareness Advocacy Committee and RSOs. She proposes ASUCD hold benefit shows, giving opportunities to showcase student art and support RSOs.

“Right now, in student government, I am not feeling represented,” Holmboe said. “I am not feeling that my priorities are being represented. And I know that with all my positions of privilege, if I am not feeling represented, that there are so many other students that are not feeling represented.”

Beebe Perez

First-year political science—public service major 

Perez is running for Senate to continue the work she’s already started during her time in Davis and in ASUCD. Perez works as a campaign coordinator for ASUCD Lobby Corps, an extension of the Office of the EAVP, and is a coordinator for the Whole Earth Festival (WEF). 

Her two main goals are protecting student voices and strengthening third spaces where students can gather and speak freely, while still feeling safe. She is motivated to protect students from possible condemnation from university administrators and wants to create and host spaces where students can be informed by RSOs about various topics, including environmental radicalism. Perez hopes to unify and encourage students to protect each other, especially with ongoing threats from the federal administration. 

“Regardless if I get elected or not, I will still strive to work on the projects I have already started working on within ASUCD,” Perez said. “I am a student who wants to get things done and is not afraid to make other people uncomfortable if it goes against student needs, student voices and doesn’t align with what students want.”

Lia Washington

Third-year political science major 

Washington decided to run for Senate to serve as a representative for Black students within ASUCD. Washington previously served as a student government senator at De Anza College before transferring to UC Davis earlier this school year, wanting to get more involved in her community. 

Her platform includes the values of accessibility, transparency and equity. She wants to prioritize protecting and expanding the accessibility of basic needs resources, especially for transfer, re-entry and international students. She also hopes to work with mentorship programs on campus to build a more diverse network of peer tutors to assist students and provide community. Lastly, she hopes to livestream Senate meetings so students can hold their senators accountable and allow for more student engagement opportunities at meetings.

“I feel like I come from a similar background to other students, so I understand the needs of the student population because these are things that also directly affect me,” Washington said. “That fuels my passion and purpose and my willingness to do whatever it takes for our community.”

Sawt Slate:

Helena Awwad

First-year Middle East/South Asian studies and international relations double major

Awwad is running with the Sawt slate — a Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian (MENASA) slate — due to an underrepresentation of that community on campus and at the federal policy level. She previously has experience in community organizing and non-profit work in Arab legal services and youth development. Her platform includes uplifting student voices, safety and wellness and financial transparency and ethical spending. She wants to bridge the gap between ASUCD and students, making students feel safe and comfortable to speak during public comment at Senate meetings.

Additionally, she wants to lower Safe Ride times and work to create Immigration and Customs Enforcement-free zones on campus. Moreover, she hopes to expand the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) initiative to be a campus-wide movement.

“I’m for the people,” Awwad said. “I’m for the students and truly believe that students' voices come first and foremost. I want students to feel the student government is a place they can go to have their concerns addressed.”

Afra Sadeghi

First-year international relations major

Sadeghi is running under the Sawt slate on a platform of ensuring every student feels represented, heard and valued within the community. Her experience in her high school’s student government and as a student representative for her school district gave her the opportunity to represent diverse student communities. She hopes to bring more resources for first-generation and immigrant students, specifically working with Aggie Reuse and the Mental Health Initiative, should she be elected. 

Her platform also includes bringing more outreach efforts to ASUCD and increasing campus-wide unity by encouraging multiculturalism and inclusive environments. 

“I am, and will, continue to be very open to hearing their opinions because I’m not the only student on this campus,” Sadeghi said.

Ayman Imam

First-year political science major

Imam is running for Senate to represent the voice of the people and of minority students. He believes it's important and valuable to have students voice their opinions. His experience as treasurer for the Muslim Student Association and the Association of Muslims in Politics and Law has helped him understand the importance of transparency and organization, as well as advocating for opinions on behalf of other students.

Imam’s goals include expanding basic needs resources, improving transportation accessibility and boosting outreach and visibility of RSOs for students. 

“I’m a person who looks at not just what I believe in and sticks to that idea, but I’m open to discussing,” Imam said. 

Viva Slate:

Caleb Swaby-Pierce

Second-year, economics and political science double major 

Swaby-Pierce is running for Senate to advocate for marginalized communities on campus. He cites his passion for advocacy as a byproduct of his background as a first-generation student of color. He currently serves as the ASUCD External Affairs Commission vice-chairperson and recently wrote a piece of legislation that created the Black Leadership and Advocacy Committee, giving Black students consistent representation in ASUCD. Swaby-Pierce is one of few Black students within the legislative branch of ASUCD and hopes to increase engagement from Black students to make the Association more equitable. 

Swaby-Pierce sees ASUCD events as a way to increase visibility for underrepresented groups — celebrating culture and informing students of their civic rights. He also aims to assist students through mental health programs, such as creating a peer counseling system and breaking stigmas surrounding therapy.

“I’m the first in my family to go to a 4-year college, the first to be involved in leadership and really work toward tangibly creating a better future for my community,” Swaby-Pierce said. “That’s what really drives me: the fact that I have been able to break these barriers. I feel it is now my duty to build opportunities for other people who come from a similar background as me — people who look like me — so they can break even more barriers.” 

Frida Sol Alvarez

Second-year Chicanx studies and political science double major

Sol Alvarez is running as a part of the Viva slate, a group she feels has done tangible work and participated within the community. She is excited to be a part of a diverse group of candidates. Her experience includes being an academic community counselor and peer advisor at the Department of Chicana/o/x Studies, political chair for the Las Raíces Pre-Law Association and co-founder of Sociedad Nueva Vida. 

Sol Alvarez wants to expand the increased representation she has seen within ASUCD and campus in recent quarters. Her platform includes revitalizing cross-cultural and civic engagement among students, expanding and spotlighting basic needs resources and continuing support for established — as well as developing — RSOs. 

“I want to see ASUCD transition into a new era,” Sol Alvarez said. “I want to see ASUCD represent not only a few, but the entire student body.”

Independent:

Madeline Nadel

First-year political science major

Nadel decided to run for Senate to increase community building on campus and create new spaces for students to feel comfortable and supported in. One of her biggest goals include instating regular community nights where students can meet and build bonds through activities, wellness and advocacy events. Beyond creating social events, Nadel hopes the initiative could lead to collaborations with other ASUCD units and commissions, such as the Sexual Assault Awareness and Advocacy Committee and the Ethnic and Cultural Affairs Commission, to educate students. 

Additionally, Nadel hopes to increase sustainability on campus through regular clothing and donation drives every quarter, especially during move-out season. She also wants to create a student maker fair, allowing students to showcase their artistic talents and sell products they made themselves, and expressed a commitment to lowering barriers to entry for joining organizations on campus.

“The biggest point I stand on is, if elected, making sure student needs are always at the forefront of what the Senate intends to do and prioritize," Nadel said. 

Gabriela Sperisen

First-year international relations major

Sperisen is running with the hope of increasing school spirit, socialization and representation of different cultures and clubs on campus. Sperisen is currently a member of the women's club water polo team and hopes to get more club sport teams involved in various ASUCD events, like the 530 Night Market. She has also proposed creating similar events for other cultures and clubs on campus.

 She also hopes to adopt the Coffee House (CoHo) if elected and wants to work to implement a CoHo loyalty program that rewards patrons with possible free drinks or discounts. 

“I personally think I bring a very upbeat energy to campus,” Sperisen said. “I know that [in] my fall quarter, I felt like there may not have been as much school spirit on campus. But like any sports team that I support when I’m a fan, I am dedicated and will give it 110% of my effort.”

Grant Cole 

First-year political science major

Cole currently serves as the chief of staff to ASUCD Senator Nate Little and is hoping to join the table in his own right to advance an uncompromising commitment to basic needs services within the Association. His proposals include cutting down the Senate’s reserves and staff salaries to redistribute to The Pantry and other basic needs units and reorganizing ASUCD funding for RSOs. He has also campaigned on increasing the opportunities for STEM students within ASUCD and on reworking the Association’s outreach initiatives to be less trivial and event-based.

Cole is running as an Independent because he believes that serving the student body at large requires not relying on any single subset of the student population for support. If elected, he hopes to reduce the level of drama among members of the Senate table relating to identity politics.

“We kind of see these groupings of people who want to help their specific community or their one issue,” Cole said. “I feel as an independent, I'm not held to any of these standards. I'm allowed to actually represent the entire student body and not just who is electing me.”

Ballot Measures

Voters may choose to “approve,” “reject” or “abstain” from any given ballot measure; “abstain” votes do not affect the voting result or count toward the total votes cast. Constitutional amendments require a simple majority approval of eligible votes cast to be passed.

Constitutional Amendment #96

This amendment, CA#96, would make the position of student advocate — head of the Student Advocate’s Office (SAO) — appointed by a committee rather than elected by the student body in spring. The amendment’s authors — which includes the current student advocate — argue that appointing the job via committee would ensure a level of institutional knowledge is retained and kept at the SAO. They also say it would curtail the risk of an unqualified and untrained candidate being placed in the role.

Constitutional Amendment #98

CA#98 would rework the timeline of ASUCD Elections to create more time for campaigning, with the hope of increasing voter turnout. If passed, the amendment would bring the fall elections up a week from week 7 to week 6 of fall quarter and push the spring election back from week 4 to week 5 of spring quarter. This change would also create a full week solely for campaigning, between when the candidate list is set and when ballots open.