The Jared Axelrod-Juliana Guzman and Todd Mann-Jontae Grace tickets have advanced to the student government general election and will battle for students’ votes next week.
The winning ticket, to be announced after 5 p.m. on April 14, will take over the ASUO Executive office in late May.
More than 23 percent of eligible voters turned out for the primary election – the highest turnout in at least 21 years. The election ended Friday at 5 p.m., and a total of 3,946 students voted.
In last year’s primaries about 14 percent voted, but students had only three days to vote rather than five.
The big question following the primaries is where Daniels and DuFour, who came in third place, will attempt to send their votes.
“I’m ready to give an endorsement. Todd Mann, right here. Full support right here,” Jacob Daniels said outside the ASUO office, his arm draped around Mann’s neck. “This is the next ASUO president.”
About 15 students gathered outside the ASUO office just after 5 p.m., waiting with anticipation – most of them pacing and some even dancing – for the Elections Board to release the results of a week’s worth of campaigning.
It was a close race for the No. 1 seat, with Axelrod and Guzman ahead of Mann and Grace by only 78 votes. The Axelrod-Guzman ticket pulled in 1,035 total votes.
“I’m feeling excited; I’m ecstatic! I’m really happy, everybody did a really good job,” Axelrod said in a phone interview after the results were posted.
Mann and Grace won 957 votes.
“I’m thankful for all the people that came out to support me and Jontae. … We’re excited, we’re going to do some great things at the University of Oregon,” Mann said.
Jacob Daniels and Amy DuFour came in third place with 746 votes, 211 behind Mann and Grace, and the Dallas Brown-Emily McLain campaign pulled in 594. Andy Dolberg and Ben Hartley had the support of 187 students. Seventy-seven people wrote in candidates not already on the ballot. The Adolf Hitler-Mark Wahlberg ticket and Batman received one write-in vote each.
Axelrod said he and Guzman will continue to campaign on the street.
“I think this next week is lookin’ just like this one. … We’re not home free yet. It’s not over yet, but we’re close,” Axelrod said.
Grace, who stood outside the ASUO office shaking hands with those who didn’t advance, said he wanted to thank everybody who voted and encourage them to do it again next week.
“It’s just an honor to be a part of this. It was an honor to be in the primaries and now it’s an honor to advance to the generals,” he said.
Check out Monday’s Emerald to find out which students were elected to the Student Senate, Athletic Department Finance Committee, Associated Student President’s Advisory Council, Student Recreation Center Advisory Board, ASUO Programs Finance Committee and EMU Board.
Contact the campus and federal politics reporter at [email protected]