Student Government election season turned the corner Wednesday as “Here & Now” presidential candidate Andrew Mahtook and vice presidential candidate Hannah Knight won their spots in the executive office.
Between McDonald’s and the barbershop of the Student Union, SG Commissioner of Elections Allyce Trapp announced that the “Here & Now” campaign earned more than 51 percent of student votes, making Mahtook and Knight the heads of SG for the 2015 academic year.
As opposed to a turnout of 5,284 voters in last year’s election, 8,908 students voted this year.
Students will see changes on campus as early as next semester if Mahtook and Knight live up to their campaign promises. Mahtook and Knight agreed they were both excited and relieved, but their work was not done.
“We’re heading back down to Free Speech Alley tomorrow, get our candidates elected that are in runoffs. We have a lot of big spots we need to fill, and so we’re looking to get those people elected,” Mahtook said.
Of the 14 colleges, five require runoff elections for the presidential and vice presidential seats. Each runoff is between a candidate from “Here & Now” and “Make It Matter.”
Of the seven colleges who elected presidents and vice presidents, “Here & Now” won 11 seats, giving up only one to “More for LSU.”
“Make It Matter” presidential candidate Helen Frink said she won’t be stopping anytime soon and plans to work closely with Mahtook next year.
“I know I can work really well with him. I’m not gonna stop, and I don’t think any of these people are going to stop,” Frink said.
“Make It Matter” captured only SG Senate seats, but it hopes to earn College Council seats in runoffs.
Frink and her running mate Wesley Davis said the “Make It Matter” campaign made a difference.
“For a lot of people, we were their first take of SG, and I’m glad it was a positive one,” Davis said.
Moe Ahsan of “More for LSU” said although he was disappointed, he was encouraged by the amount of student involvement in the election process this year.
“They had a great turnout. [Almost] 9,000 people voted. The decision was made by the students,” Ahsan said.
Presidential candidate David Scotton of “More for LSU” said he was proud of his team for getting as far as they did and hopes they set a new standard for elections in the future.
“I hope that next election, maybe they can follow our footsteps and run a campaign and not a popularity contest,” Scotton said.
Trapp said voting increased 60 percent from last year, and 30 percent of the student body voted.
“I think it’s a record breaker, honestly. I haven’t gone back to the archives from 1921 to see, but you know, it’s definitely a big deal — something I’m very proud of,” Trapp said. “It wouldn’t have happened without the tickets, all their passion and the LSU students.”

Gallery • 7 Photos

Emily Brauner

LSU Student Government vice presidential candidate Hannah Knight and presidential candidate Andrew Mahtook from the Here & Now ticket await the results from the 2015 Spring election on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 in the Live Oak Lounge.