ASUCD Senate votes to begin impeachment proceedings against Senator Aaron Heth over his attendance of a TPUSA-affiliated conference

The resolution passed at the Senate’s April 30 meeting following heavy deliberation

By LILY KENROW AND AALIYAH ESPAÑOL-RIVAS— campus@theaggie.org

The Associated Students, University of California, Davis (ASUCD) Senate has voted to begin impeachment proceedings against Senator Aaron Heth, a third-year political science major, over his fully funded attendance to a Campus Victory Project (CVP) conference in December 2025. 

The emergency impeachment resolution, written by Senator Jaliah Payne, a third-year political science major, passed at the Senate’s April 30 meeting in a vote of 11-3, just meeting the required three-fourths majority.

“Should any ASUCD Elected official, defined in Article II and Article III of the ASUCD Constitution, be suspected of gross misconduct or is otherwise incapable for their office, the ASUCD Senate may initiate impeachment proceedings to be conducted by the ASUCD Judicial Council,” as per the ASUCD Bylaws.

Heth’s impeachment was based on alleged violations of bylaws pertaining to campaign finances and code of ethics, due to his attendance being fully funded and his alleged continued contact with Charlie Schumer, a CVP recruiter. The resolution against Heth also points out potential contact between Schumer and other members of the Vision slate, Heth’s slate in the spring 2026 ASUCD elections prior to its dissolution. 

Heth’s attendance of the CVP conference, which is funded by conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was originally made public through reporting by The California Aggie. Heth was running for ASUCD president at the time; he later dropped out of the race.

The resolution argues that Heth’s attendance to the conference, which occurred after his election to the Senate in fall 2025, goes against ASUCD Bylaws mandating elected officials act in the public interest and against representing external organizations’ policy goals. It is also clarified that the resolution does not concern itself with Heth’s personal political and belief affiliations, but rather the acceptance of material benefits from external organizations while holding office. 

Heth has maintained that he was unaware of CVP’s positions before attending the conference and said that he has not accepted any funds from the group or remained connected to them since the conference.

The impeachment proceedings now move to the ASUCD Judicial Council, who are required to initiate hearings within a week of the resolution’s passing. Should they determine Heth to be in violation of the ASUCD Constitution, and find that the impeachment proceedings are on non-partisan grounds with evidence to support the claims against him, he will be removed from office.

The last time an impeachment resolution passed was in 2023, when the Senate unanimously voted to impeach then-ASUCD President Francisco Ojeda and Internal Vice President Aarushi Raguhunathan.

Prior to the deliberation of the resolution, nearly two dozen students gave public comments, both virtually and in person, in support of Heth’s position as senator. The public discussion mostly circled the topic of Heth’s religion and faith, with many members of the public and table mentioning their own beliefs in their arguments. 

Among those who came to give public comment to the table was Davis Christian Fellowship intern Bálint Szigeti Csúcs, a UC Davis graduate and friend of Heth.  

“We are ambassadors of Jesus,” Szigeti Csúcs said. “And as a Christian, Aaron knows that he has a calling to the highest integrity, and he knows that cheating his way to the position of ASUCD president is not pleasing in the sign of his God.”

Senator Mia Oscanoa, a first-year political science major, pointed out that many students who came to the Senate meeting in support of Heth saw him as a representative for their voices and opinions.

“If any other minority group did that, you’d just be like, ‘Oh, my gosh, we can't do this, this is unethical,’ but because it's conservative Christians, you want to do this,” Oscanoa said. “I don't understand what you guys are doing by using this as a political tool. There's no evidence, no documentation, no receipts.”

One individual, who refused to disclose their name, gave a public comment critiquing the members of the table.

“Your thinly veiled racism, hatred, intolerance is shining through,” the individual said. “Every single time [Heth]'s faith has been brought up, your snickering faces, your looks to each other — your hatred has shined through and everyone here in the room witnessed it.”

Payne responded to the comment in defense of the table.

“I don't think that we're a hateful group,” Payne said. “I don't think the people sitting here are racist either, especially since most of them are minorities, and minorities do not have the institutional power to be racist. Racism is based on structure.” 

The discussion continued after public comment and into the official consideration of the resolution itself, with Heth giving a brief statement to his colleagues.

“I ran for ASUCD Senate to serve students,” Heth said. “My community came out here to show you that day. I'm fighting for every student and want to represent them.”

Heth continued, distancing himself from CVP.

“I implore all of you, my colleagues, to not make this about politics,” Heth said. “This impeachment resolution very clearly talks about what CVP believes, not what I believe. I am not CVP. I want to continue working to represent all my constituents, over [30 of] which came to support me, and many more wrote comments in my support. Do not take their representation away.”

Senator Ezra Rubin, a third-year classics and international relations double major, backed Heth, arguing that the way the table had framed the resolution was incorrect.

“[The impeachment resolution] was kind of posed as the Senate making an inquiry into whether some misconduct was done, and then it being brought to Judicial Council to adjudicate,” Rubin said. “That's not what impeachment is — an impeachment is, in-and-of-itself, an accusation and should be based on clear evidence.”

International Student Representative Robi Castaneda, a fourth-year political science and music double major, rebutted Rubin and argued that the impeachment resolution was not political.

“Ultimately, this resolution is not about politics,” Castaneda said. “It is about the integrity of our Association. I believe that this resolution is a chance for the Judicial Council to exercise an interpretation.”

Ethnic and Cultural Affairs Commission Chairperson Mālie Ne, a third-year political science and Native American studies double major, then spoke on the frequent mention of religion during discussion.

“I find it abhorrent how we've been using the Bible in this argument,” Ne said. “It is not on account of his faith that Senator Heth has been accused and subsequently being held to be impeached. It is on account of aligning themselves with figures like TPUSA and CVP.” 

Oscanoa later spoke again in defense of Heth.

“I don't understand why you guys are literally persecuting him for attending something,” Oscanoa said. “There is no evidence that he accepted any funding.”

All voting members of the table voted on the resolution; Heth, Oscanoa and Rubin were the only “no” votes.

After the resolution was passed, ASUCD President Amrita Julka, a third-year political science and human development double major, voiced her disappointment over how the table handled themselves throughout the meeting.

“This is not something I’m happy that happened,” Julka said, addressing the table. “This should not bring anyone else here on this table any joy, because this is just so unfortunate. It’s such a horrible look for us as an Association, that this had to happen. I just want to remind everyone that despite everything, we always need to keep our language respectful. It is not fun to sit here on this table as a woman of color and be called a racist and be discriminated against just because I believed in something.”

Written by: Lily Kenrow and Aaliyah Español Rivas— campus@theaggie.org