Two Student Government Association presidential tickets, Kristen-Nicole Mitei and Kendall Rench and Mercer Martin and Josephine Nicholson, will compete in a runoff election, according to unofficial election results late Friday.
Of the 2,745 votes cast, Mitei and Rench received 1,336 votes, or 48.67% of the vote. Martin and Nicholson received 1,181 votes, or 43.02% of the vote. The third ticket, Bridgett Lapp and Andy Wang, received 228 votes, or 8.3% of the vote, according to unofficial election results Friday night.
According to the SGA code annotated, a presidential candidate must receive above 50% of the vote to win the seat.
The runoff election will take place Thursday beginning at 8 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m.
Mitei and Rench’s campaign is called “FOCUS,” an acronym for future, openness, community, unity and support. Their mission is to strengthen student life through a transparent and accessible community, according to their official Instagram page.
The foundation of Martin and Nicholson's campaign is called “SPIRIT,” an acronym for strengthening connections, promoting OU traditions, integrating resources and access, reinforcing campus fellowship, initiating partnerships with Norman and tying students to the local community.
Last year, Carter Strickland became president following an uncontested election. Strickland was impeached on March 25, becoming the first SGA president in university history to be impeached.
Strickland resigned on April 4 after serving as president for three months. Former Vice President Avery Dunlap became SGA president following Strickland’s resignation.
