2026 ASB candidates vie for your votes

Associated Student Body executive and senate candidates, alongside their campaign teams, are lining the Union Plaza until March 24. Using their custom tablecloths, stickers and friends to campaign, candidates are competing for support from the University of Mississippi student community in this year’s Associated Student Body election.

Students will be able to vote on myOleMiss in the Get Involved and Vote in Student Elections tabs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24. In the event of a runoff election, campaigning will continue on March 25 and 26, and voting will reoccur from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 26.

Current ASB President Jack Jones elaborated more on the election process.

“The Department of Justice oversees the election process, and that is run by our Attorney General Madison Waldrop,” Jones said. “This week and into the election days, you will see people campaigning and talking about what they want to do for the university and student body. It gives the candidates the opportunity to relay to the student body what they plan to do if elected.”

President

Jalon Hightower is a junior from Kosciusko, Miss., double majoring in political science and multi-disciplinary studies. Hightower has served in the senate since Nov. 28, 2023 and is currently the committee chair for inclusion and cross-cultural engagement.

“I’m choosing to run for ASB President because of the experiences I’ve gained in student advocacy and leadership that continues to inform my decisions everyday. What has specifically informed my decision to run has been seeing the direction Ole Miss is going in and hearing student visions of ‘what Ole Miss should be,’” Hightower said. “After seeing and aiding in the tremendous work of this current presidency and vice presidency, I hope to carry on their legacies and the many before them by prioritizing student concerns as we work with student leaders and university administrators to efficiently create stable, long-term solutions.”

OC Williford is a junior public policy leadership major from Madison, Miss. Williford currently serves as the president’s chief of staff. She is also involved in Ole Miss Ambassadors and is a member of The Columns Society.

“I believe in the students of Ole Miss. This university challenges its students daily in countless ways, and in return, I want to challenge Ole Miss to further grow its commitment to excellence for each and every student,” Williford said. “Serving as ASB President is a privilege and an opportunity beyond words, but an even greater honor is serving the students of Ole Miss. … Ole Miss owes me nothing, but it has given me everything — it is only my duty to give back by leading with purpose and by magnifying the student voice.”

Vice President

Eli Keel is a junior public policy leadership major from Vinemont, Ala. Keel has served as an ASB Senator and currently serves as the special advisor on graduate student council and faculty senate relations in the ASB President’s Cabinet.

“I want to be ASB’s next VP because I want to help our student leaders help people. I know the legislative process and how the senate runs, and I also understand how our senator’s resolutions become changed on this campus. I know who to call and where to route policy from my time as special advisor to the president,” Keel said. “I am eager to serve because I want to be a beacon of the love (Jesus) Christ called us to give to one another. I also have a deep affinity for this university, and after years in ASB, I have had great role models whom I hope to emulate in just a small way should I be elected to lead our legislative branch.”

Corey Kingery is a sophomore public policy leadership major from Meridian, Miss. Kingery currently serves as an ASB Senator. 

“I’m running for ASB Vice President because I believe we’re at a pivotal moment for our university. Ole Miss is entering a new era of growth and opportunity, but the standard of

leadership, accountability and service that defines ASB should never change,” Kingery said. “I care deeply about strengthening communication, supporting senators and creating a culture of follow-through. … I know I’m prepared to lead in this moment. I’ve put in the work, I understand the responsibility, and I’m committed to upholding the same standard that students expect, while helping move ASB forward into its next chapter.”

Josie McCarey is a sophomore with a double major in public policy leadership and international studies from Marietta, Ga. McCarey currently serves as ASB’s Panhellenic Senator.

“I’ve always had a passion for serving my community — there truly is no better feeling than interacting with people whose lives you have actively made better … I am running for vice president because I want to foster these experiences for our ASB members and increase the impact that we make on the student body,” McCarey said. “Being elected by the student body to be vice president would inextricably link me to (its) joys, struggles and experiences. I want to leave a legacy that is greater than myself, and I realized that I could make the greatest impact in this role.”

Trey McKean is a junior public policy leadership major from Fairhope, Ala. McKean served as the vice chair for the senate’s athletics committee, which the organization dissolved during its formal senate meeting on Tuesday, March 17.

“I want to become the next ASB Vice President because I want to make a positive impact on this university. I aim to create an environment in the senate where student leaders can create impactful projects that benefit the students directly,” McKean said. “My past two years in the senate have been an exceptional experience, and I want to build on that by running for this position.”

Brady Moore is a senior with a double major in public policy leadership and history from Lovington, Ill. Moore has served as a senator for the past three years.

“I want to be ASB VP for one simple reason: I want to lift and empower students here at Ole Miss,” Moore said. “Students are being asked to do more every single day than in years prior, and our students answer this call. We face new challenges, but one thing that can keep our world spinning is positivity. I bring positivity everywhere I go, and it is the right mindset that we need to keep our university and community growing. By leading the campus senate, I can lead our senators to always put students first every single day by helping them with their legislative projects and not taking credit for their actions. Leadership is a selfless job, and I plan to make sure the students feel that impact.”

Secretary

Caroline Croley is a junior with a double major in public policy leadership and English from Atlanta. Croley served as the secretary this past term and is running unopposed for re-election.

“I want to be ASB Secretary because I want to continue the work that I have done over the past year, without … the added difficulty of having to learn the position along the way,” Croley said. “Additionally, there are several items that I implemented this year and that I want to continue long after I (graduate), like the Holman Fund Fall Classic and the Adopt-A-Basket internal competition.”

Treasurer

Jackson Doss is a sophomore with a double major in public policy leadership and accountancy from Oxford. Doss currently serves as the head deputy comptroller in the ASB Treasury’s Department.

“I have had the opportunity to serve under the treasury department for a year and a half, with the last year serving as the head comptroller. During my time within the department, I’m proud of the work we have done and what we can continue to do. I am running under the slogan, ‘Doss Delivers Dollars,’” Doss said in an Instagram post. “With your vote, I will ensure that registered student organizations across campus receive adequate funding for any expenses they might need during the school year. More student organizations deserve more funding, and I will deliver.”

Paul Winfield is a sophomore with a double major in public policy leadership and interdisciplinary studies from Vicksburg, Miss. Winfield currently serves as an ASB Senator.

“I’m running for treasurer because students deserve transparency and accountability when it comes to the Student Activity Fee. Every student pays into it, and you should be able to clearly see where that money is going,” Winfield said. “What ultimately pushed me to run was my experience working with student organizations and seeing how confusing and restrictive funding processes can be. I’ve seen how that lack of clarity can limit opportunities, and I want to help change that. I believe I’ve demonstrated that trust through my work on campus, and I’m ready to take on a larger responsibility in a way that is forward-looking, creative and focused on students.”

Attorney General

Lucy Allen is a junior public policy leadership major from Brookhaven, Miss. Allen has served within the department of justice since her freshman year, most recently as deputy attorney general of elections engagement.

“I want to be ASB’s next attorney general because I am passionate about maintaining a process that is both fair and accessible for all students but also fun. My experience has shown me how important it is to maintain the integrity of elections and the ASB code while also ensuring that students are comfortable engaging in the process,” Allen said. “Serving as attorney general would be a continuation of the work I have already been doing within the ASB Department of Justice, but with increased responsibility and leadership. I was inspired to run for this position because I want to build and improve upon the precedent set before me.”

Alex Griggs is a junior transfer student with a double major in psychology and economics on the pre-law track from Atlanta. Griggs is a two-year member of ASB and currently serves as vice chair of the committee on governmental operations.

“I want to be attorney general because of my love for the ASB (Constitution and Code), as well as elections. Working on the committee on governmental operations, I had the unique opportunity to work both the legislative side of the code, as well as serve as a voting member on the election review board,” Griggs said. “The biggest inspiration for me has been the student leaders I have worked under. These past two years, I have been able to see how ASB serves the student body for the better, and that community is something that made me transfer here to Ole Miss. In my final year here, I want to give back to the community that has given so much to me.”

Judicial Chair

Ashlyn Minga is a junior biomedical engineering student on the pre-law track from Hattiesburg, Miss. Minga currently serves as the vice chair of both the judicial board and the university judicial council.

“I want to be the next ASB Judicial Chair because I deeply believe in the importance of the conduct process at our university, and I want students to better understand the conduct process and restorative justice principles we practice,” Minga said. “I have seen both Cross Del Tatto and Diego Abele (past ASB Judicial Chairs) make a meaningful impact on campus through the way they led the ASB judicial branch, and it would be such an honor to contribute to the university in that same way.”

Senior Class President

Ella Key is a junior finance major from Diamondhead, Miss. Key currently serves as ASB Deputy Attorney General of the ASB Constitution and Code.

“I want to serve as ASB’s next senior class president because of how much the class of 2027 and this university mean to me. I was inspired to run because I wanted to do something purposeful with my senior year, not just for myself but for the people I’ve shared this experience with,” Key said. “I also realized how important senior year is as a closing chapter, as it is one of the last times we are all in the same place before going in different directions. That made me want to be more intentional about how that time is shaped. I want to help create moments that bring people together and make everyone feel like they are truly part of something special before we leave.”

Senior Class Vice President

Elisabeth Miller is a junior with a double major in chemical engineering and public policy leadership from Corpus Christi, Texas. Miller currently serves as chair of ASB’s Committee on Housing.

“Our time at the University of Mississippi is shaped, more than anything else, by the people we meet. No group has impacted me more than my fellow students in the class of 2027,” Miller said. “I am running for senior class vice president to give back to the people and experiences that have made this university feel like home and to help our final year together be meaningful and memorable.”

Elle Nassar is a junior with a major in public policy leadership from Cleveland, Miss.

“I decided to run for senior class vice president because I am passionate about serving our class and our university through servant leadership. Ole Miss has been the biggest blessing, giving me intentional friendships and wonderful opportunities that have allowed me to grow exponentially throughout my time here,” Nassar said. “I was encouraged to run for this role when thinking about my final year at the university. The idea of leaving a strong lasting legacy for our class encouraged me to run. I believe our class is full of strong leaders and ambitious students who will do well for our world and I would be honored to play a small role in making our senior year special.”

While not in effect for this semester’s elections, changes aimed to improve communication between the ASB’s election review board and candidates will come in the fall. During the ASB Senate on Tuesday, March 17 in the Gertrude C. Ford Student Union, ASB President Pro Tempore Wesley Templet and Chair of Student Life Eron Hendrix presented Senate Bill 26-12 in an effort to ensure “fair, fun and free” elections.

If passed, the bill would call for a new communication protocol to assist candidates that did not receive or see important emails sent regarding elections.

“I believe that this is utterly necessary to protect the fairness of the election process, even though it may cause a little bit of hard work for the DOJ,” Hendrix said.

Hendrix and Templet believed that the current code does not lay out the protocol for alleged parties when responding to ERB complaints. The bill proposed strives to outline specifics.

“I believe that making this process clearer helps the candidate and the (Department of Justice),” Hendrix said.

SB 26-12 amendment passed with a unanimous vote, followed by a vote of 30-7 to pass the bill on the senate floor.

Senate Races

Editor’s note: Paul Winfield, Pegah Vasighi-Ansanfar and Tyler Boecker have served as opinion writers for The Daily Mississippian during the 2025-26 academic year. The DM does not endorse these candidates or any others running for ASB office. Winfield is not associated with the DM for the duration of his campaign.