2025-26 Associated Students Election results: Ortiz wins President, Li wins External Affairs, SJP resolution passes
Results are in: the student body voted Ailsa Ortiz as Associated Students (A.S.) President at Santa Monica College (SMC) for the 2025-26 school year. Ortiz received 382 votes, surpassing first runner-up Valeria Castillo, who received 292. Sameer Wason received 82 votes and Rico Santana received 77. Ortiz received 45.9% of the total student vote for President, which was counted at 833.
The student body also voted Liz Li as Director of External Affairs with 397 votes. Runner-up Ashley He received 370.
The legislative initiative sponsored by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) passed, receiving 623 votes for “Yes,” or 73.1% of total votes, which is an absolute majority; 229 “No” votes were counted.
The rest of the Director candidates that ran unopposed won by default, including Ireedui “Ike” Munguntsatsralt for Vice President, Sebastian Dennis Iuul for Director of Budget Management, Iman Ali for Director of Outreach, Bryan Hartanto for Director of Instructional Support, Martin Orea for Director of Basic Needs, Gabriel Hernandez Perez for Director of Equity and Diversity, Sophia Manavi for Student Trustee, and Saif Alnaqbi for one of three Judicial Board seats.
The Office of Student Life received no credible reports of any Campaign Violations during this election cycle.
Remaining positions, including Secretary, Director of Activities, Director of Publicity, Director of Sustainability, and two Judicial Board seats will be filled in a Special Election, similar to the General Election process with designated time for campaigning and voting.
Ortiz, a political science student in SMC’s Law Pathway, is the Indigenous Scholars vice president and the Community Outreach Supervisor for a public health nonprofit.
“I believe with my background in community organizing and activism outside of SMC, I know how to clean up a mess and connect with a community,” Ortiz said at the Corsair’s Election Forum on March 27.
Li, an 18-year-old psychology major, wants to use her position to network and build a platform for students to communicate with legislators.
“Students don’t have the opportunity to reach out to the officials, so that’s my job,” said Li at the forum. “I would like to build this strong foundation.”
Li and Ortiz both ran on the Big Idea slate, along with Iuul, Orea, Ali and Hernandez Perez. At the forum, Ortiz said the slate is working for “community, humanity, transparency, culture and enlightenment.”
At an Elections Committee Meeting on April 4, current A.S. President David Duncan and Associate Dean of Student Life Thomas Bui thanked all candidates for participating in the election and learning from the experience.
“I know that running can be very stressful,” Duncan said. “I really want to say just how important it is that you all said that you’re willing to step up and lead.”
“Big congratulations to everyone. Running for elections is a big deal,” Bui said. “It’s not an easy thing to take that step and that risk to put yourself out there, and so we just want to provide thank you to all of you.”
“I hope that folks are not discouraged as a result of this election and will consider one of the other open vacancies,” Bui said.
To hear from the new elects on their campaign goals, read about or watch the Corsair’s Election Forum.