The Allegheny Student Government has delayed the filing deadline for this year’s presidential election by three weeks after just one ticket filed to run by the original deadline of Tuesday night. ASG also on Tuesday swore in a new senator for the Class of 2027 during its General Assembly — part of a unique attendance statistic for the evening.
During his regular report, Attorney General Will Lowthert, ’24, said that only one application for the ASG presidency had been received by the Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m. deadline and that candidates would be able to file for another two-and-a-half weeks.
“Based on a precedent set in 2019, we decided — just to give people enough time to think about it, reflect through, and then also just have enough time to decide if they actually want to run for president — we have decided to extend the application and date to March 17, which is after spring break,” Lowthert said.
Speaking after the meeting, Lowthert declined to identify who had filed to run, given that the filing deadline has been extended.
“If the public knows beforehand, it could have an impact on the campaign,” Lowthert said. “I’m just very happy that they are wanting to participate in our student government.”
The new filing deadline of Sunday, March 17, could alter ASG’s election calendar. Originally, the timeline called for primary elections to be held from March 14 until March 17, with the top two vote-getters in the primary advancing to the presidential debate on March 19 and the general election from March 24 until March 27.
However, if more than one additional ticket files by March 17, the calendar could need to be reworked to hold the primary election, a task that Lowthert said would fall to the elections committee when the time comes.
Another option — if the field is just three tickets — would be to have all tickets participate in the debate and general election.
ASG also swore in a new senator for the Class of 2027: Lyra Lindsay, ’27, brings the total number of first-year representatives back up to five after former Class of 2027 President Ella DeRose was appointed to her current position of director of finance last week.
Even with Lindsay present, however, a curious attendance statistic emerged: More cabinet members than senators were in attendance. The cabinet, including President Nicole Recio Bremer, ’25, and Vice President Sam Ault, ’24, numbered 14, while the Senate totaled 13.
The split was helped along by two facts: This week saw the first full ASG cabinet of the academic year, and two senators — Lizy Chovatia, ’26, and Aidan McGrory, ’26 — were absent. Currently, there are 15 sitting senators, with three empty seats for the Class of 2024 and one empty seat each for the Class of 2025 and Class of 2026.
That may change soon: Class of 2026 President Lorenzo Scarnati said during his report that he was in the process of arranging interviews to fill the last open sophomore seat, though he did not specify when a new member might be appointed.
ASG is off next week for spring break and next meets at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, in room CC 301/302 of the Henderson Campus Center.
