The 2026-2027 Southern Utah University Student Association primary election closed at 5 p.m. today and ended in a tie between two student body president candidates, Jared Sharp with Tanner Crosland and Ryker Moss with Austin Isom. The election will reopen until Sunday, March 1 at 5 p.m.
The results of this round of voting have narrowed the student senate candidate pool for next week’s general election.
Student Body President and Vice President
Student Body President Candidate Kenzie Porter, with her running mate Keegan Dickinson, received the most votes, guaranteeing them a spot on next week’s general election ballot.
Though Jared Sharp and Tanner Crosland, and Ryker Moss and Austin Isom ended this voting period with a tie, students who have not voted yet can still have a chance to cast their vote for student body president until Sunday. The tie-break will be announced that evening.
Students can vote on their MySUU app or at the student elections website.
Student Senate
While voting for student body president will reopen, the primary election results for the student senate are final.
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences Senator candidates who will be moving on to the general election are Rylie Creager and Avery Rudd. Candidates Payson Davis and Aymara Cluff-Bendana will not continue.
The College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math will see Krishna Shah and Madison Julien resume their campaigns for senator. Maleah Dameron will be cut, losing by only a dozen votes.
SUUSA Senate candidates who are running uncontested will continue onto the next round of voting. This includes Taysia Luke for College of Performing and Visual Arts Senator, Alyssa Bright for College of Health Sciences Senator, Isaac Byrd for School of Business Senator and Phillip Cheney for College of Education and Human Development Senator.
Both candidates for the College of Aviation Senator, Chance Homman and Max Judd, will be on the general election ballot as well.
What’s next?
Campaigning will continue throughout the next week. The general election voting period will open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4. Candidates will participate in a public debate that day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the living room. The election will close on Friday, March 6, at 5 p.m., and results will be available that night.
On Monday, March 2, SUUSA Executive Council appointed position declarations will open. These will close on March 18. More information on appointed positions is available online.
For more details on the candidates, visit their platforms on the election website and read their SUU News spotlights. Election information is available on the website and the SUU Student Life Instagram.
Author: Heather Turner
Photo courtesy of SUU
news@suunews.net