Student government campaigning opens, presidential tickets lay out their case

All positions for the upcoming Undergraduate Student Government (USG) election are contested this year, with two leading groups being headed by presidential candidates Social Committee Chair Enzo Kho ’26 and Treasurer Uma Fox ’26.

Public campaigning began on Nov. 18, with both candidates partnering with a vice presidential candidate. Kho has also formed a coalition with three other candidates running for USG positions in down-ballot races.

This is the second year in a row that the USG reopened petitioning after six positions were being run for uncontested, as announced on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Following this secondary period, all positions on the ballot are now contested, with highly competitive races expected across the board.

16 positions are up for grabs, including 10 USG chairs and six class senators open. The election goes live at 12 p.m. on Nov. 25, and newly-elected students will hold their positions for the 2025 calendar year.

The presidential and vice presidential candidates spoke with The Daily Princetonian for 15 minutes, answering a range of similarly-posed questions on their ambitions for the top-jobs and USG resumes.

Kho is running on a joint ticket with vice presidential candidate Executive Secretary Karen Villanueva ’27. Both candidates emphasized that their platform intended to address student needs among groups that are not as well prepared to enter the Princeton community.

Kho, an international student from Philippines, cited that aspect as a defining reason for why he is running.

“I didn’t come from a background that taught me how to navigate a Princeton education,” Kho told the ‘Prince.’ “If someone in USG would have been very visible … that would have made a difference to me.”

Kho emphasized how his experience entering Princeton has led him to focus his efforts on improving the experience for first year students, serving as a Community Action (CA) fellow and other involvement in the PACE center. Additionally, Kho described his feelings about USG’s reaction and response to the protests and the encampment last spring.

“We also want to regain the student body’s trust for USG, especially with what happened the past few months,” Kho said. “Last semester was a sign for me that USG wasn't prepared to face those matters.”

A botched vote last spring led the USG to pass on a condemnation of student arrests that took place during the encampment, and issue a statement reaffirming free expression.

Villanueva echoed Kho’s description of the core values underpinning their platform, highlighting her and Kho’s involvement in creating the TigerTies event this year as an example of their dedication to student outreach.

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Fox, paired with U-Councilor Chair Aishwarya Swamidurai ’26, are running on the other side of the ticket. The pair also emphasized their experience within USG in their interviews with the ‘Prince‘, directing voters to their involvement on issues such as gender-neutral bathrooms and the reduction of the mental health care student co-pay.

“What made me decide to run was feeling that I can bring something unique to the table,” Fox said. “I have a lot left to do, and I think that the role of president will give me the best chance to get things done for the student body.”

Fox also discussed her experience handling the body’s finances and credited the role for expanding her knowledge of USG planning and prioritization.

“If there’s one thing that I could say I’m the most proud of, of any of my work in USG, it’s easily being able to sit down and know exactly where each student’s dollars are going, and how we can better spend it to make their experience here more valuable,” she noted.

Kho and Villanueva are also hoping to examine the institution of USG itself.

Kho mentioned ideas for restructuring USG, citing issues with efficiency, and the programs they have planned with the Princeton community in mind.

Villanueva honed in on constitutional familiarity among USG members to avoid misunderstandings. Her comments come after a concise and brief approval process for the election’s now-four referenda, she in part led, which emphasized a focus on syntax rather than the merit of each question.

She also outlined an outreach plan which intends to increase transparency with the student body about USG happenings.

“I think it’s very important to update all of our newsletters, update our website, consistently … and allow students to understand that we are trying to be as transparent as possible with the work that we’re doing,” Villanueva told the ‘Prince.’

“We’re just so excited to serve them, hear their voices and work with them, because at the end of the day, USG isn’t an entity independent from the student body,” Kho continued.

Fox independently echoed Kho’s remarks, citing a desire to bridge dialogue between student groups’ across campus.

“I created a program to have coffee chats with affinity group leaders,” Fox said, pointing to her time as the USG’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair. “It’s a small thing, but it’s a thing that I valued a lot.

“Having those one-on-one conversations, having opportunities to hear what they were thinking about in policy and then bringing them to meetings,” she continued.

Fox and Swamidurai also discussed some of their key goals, including increasing transit options to support the needs of undergrads and allowing the pass/D/fail (PDF) option for language courses. The latter goal is reminiscent of one of the referenda that will appear on the ballot, sponsored by Academics Chair Vivian Bui ’26.

“Our values are really having a focus on transparency — on making policies that help people in the everyday,” Fox explained. “Whether that’s something as small as changing the dining labelings that it better reflects halal and kosher needs, or something really big, like being able to increase the funding for Lawnparties.”

Swamidurai’s desire to serve as the second-in-command is tandem with their platform goals.

“I decided, after having conversations with people around campus, really understanding needs, that the role of vice president is a way to leverage the experience I’ve had previously to really uplift and advocate for student needs going forward,” Swamidurai told the ‘Prince.’

Explaining his partnership with Villanueva, Kho explained his desire for a voice on USG policies that disagreed with his.

“I want someone who doesn’t just say yes to the ideas I propose, I want someone to contradict them or critically evaluate them,” Kho said. “I think she has been that perfect candidate to do it with.”

The full list of candidates for this election cycle, along with their statements, can be viewed here. There will be a USG Presidential debate held on Wednesday at 8 p.m., hosted by the ‘Prince’ and Whig Cliosophic Society, in the Whig Senate chamber.

Devon Rudolph is a News and Sports contributor for the ‘Prince’ from Fairfax, Va.

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article alluded that Fox and Swamidurai’s campaign had endorsed a USG referendum to allow P/D/F on language courses. Additionally, Kho's national origin was originally misattributed to Vietnam. He is from the Philippines. The ‘Prince’ regrets this error.