Self-proclaimed “big underdogs” Executive candidates Adam Walsh and Kyla Coy came from behind to nab the student government’s top posts in today’s general election, defeating candidates Ashley Rees and Jael Anker-Lagos by 317 votes.
Walsh, whose platform included boosting community relations and reforming the budget process, received 1,174 votes, or about two-and-a-half times more than he garnered in the primary, while Rees received 857, or about 6 percent fewer votes.
A grinning Walsh was on-hand at EMU Suite 4 this evening to see the results, calling his win “surprising.”
“That is a fucking landslide,” he said while first looking at the results.
“I thought it was going to be a lot closer than that,” he told the Emerald, saying Rees’ ticket was “highly visible.
Walsh attributed the win to the support of several former candidates who lost in the primaries.
“They should be very, very proud of the work they did in supporting us,” he said.
Rees said she wished Walsh and Coy “the best of luck.”
“We’re disappointed, but we’re excited that so many students were engaged,” she said.
Walsh finished second to Rees in last week’s primary election, receiving 445 votes to Rees’ 907. Yet several former candidates who lost in the primaries campaigned for Walsh in the general, perhaps tipping the scales in his favor.
About 12 percent of students voted in the election, less than participated in the primaries, according to the ASUO Election Board. But voter turnout surpassed last year, when only about 9.9 percent cast ballots in the general election.
After learning he won, Walsh immediately called Coy, who did not answer her cell phone.
“Kyla, it’s Adam,” he said in a voice mail message for Coy. “I just wanted to know how it feels to be the vice president of the Associated Students of the University of Oregon.”
ASUO Student Senator Nick Hudson, who began supporting Walsh after losing in the primary, said student government will be “100 percent better than it was this year.”
“My reaction was that I had won because I have really put a lot of my support, as well as (former candidate Jacob Daniels) had, into bringing down the status quo of the ASUO and in a sense formulating an organization to help Adam and Kyla,” he said.
Other races also tight
Other races in today’s election were also closely contested. Senate Seat 11 candidate Tyrel Love won with 78 votes compared to Justin Wheeler’s 60 votes.
Associated Students Presidential Advisory Committee candidate Tyler Bushnell won with 625 votes, passing Jontae Grace by just 2 votes.
Student Recreation and Fitness Advisory Board candidates Kelly Donovan, Yumi Nada, and Richard Pryor received the most votes for that position.
Senate Seat 17 candidate Rob Craig, who ran unopposed in the election, received 171 votes.

[email protected]