Notable Changes
No Campaign Parties
Candidates will now run as individuals or as a slate for President and Vice President/Speaker
of the Senate, rather than as part of a campaign party. This change encourages candidates
to focus on their own ideas, platforms, and leadership goals. The President and Vice
President/Speaker of the Senate slate will also ensure aligned leadership, shared
goals, and a clear vision for the SGA administration from the start.
Vice President / Speaker of the Senate
The Vice President also serves as the Speaker of the Senate, leading SGA’s legislative
branch. This role presides over Senate meetings, oversees committees, and collaborates
with the President to guide student legislation. This position will serve as a bridge
between the Executive and Legislative Branches to ensure consistent communication
and collaboration across branches.
Removal of At-Large and Honors College Senators
Senate seats are no longer designated as At-Large or Honors College positions. Senators
will instead represent their respective colleges or schools, creating clearer representation
and more direct advocacy for students within each academic unit. This also eliminates
the overrepresentation of a single academic college (i.e. multiple at-large senators
representing a single college, in addition to their apportioned number of senators).
No Negative Campaigning
Candidates are expected to run positive, respectful campaigns that focus on their
own ideas, goals, and vision for SGA. Negative campaigning—such as personal attacks
or attempts to discredit other candidates—is not permitted, helping ensure a fair
and supportive election experience for everyone. All campaign materials must be approved
by the Election Commissioner prior to distribution. Students will be able to submit
an Election Code Violation form for any instances of negative campaigning, which may
result in a violation (i.e. campaigning suspension or other consequence) from the
Election Commission for that candidate.
Endorsements
Endorsements are regulated to promote fairness and transparency in elections. If a
Registered Student Organization wishes to endorse a candidate, they must hold a vote
with their membership in which 51% vote for that candidate. Documentation of the vote
(i.e. meeting minutes, voting results) must be submitted with the endorsement documentation
for the Election Commissioner to verify.
Violation Appeals
As SGA is in the process of relaunching, we do not currently have a Judiciary. To
ensure that students are making all governing decisions, a committee of student leaders
from across campus has been selected to serve as this year’s SGA Judiciary and make
decisions on any appeals. In future elections, the Judiciary will hear all appeals.
Apply Today!
Eligibility
To be eligible to run for an SGA elected position, students must:
- Be currently enrolled at the University of Houston
- Be in good academic and disciplinary standing, as defined by University policy
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
Students running to become a Senator may be enrolled full-time or part-time. Candidates
for the President and Vice President/Speaker of the Senate positions must be enrolled
full-time (undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 12 hours, and graduate
students at least 6 hours).
Elected Positions
Student Body President
The Student Body President serves as the official voice of UH students, representing
student interests to university leadership and the broader community. The President
leads the executive branch, sets priorities for the year, and works closely with SGA
leaders to advocate for positive change on campus.
Vice President / Speaker of the Senate
The Vice President/Speaker of the Senate leads SGA’s legislative branch and presides
over Senate meetings. This role helps guide student-led legislation, coordinates Senate
committees, and works closely with the President to ensure student voices are heard
and acted upon.
Senator
Senators represent the interests of students from their college or constituency. They
attend Senate meetings, serve on committees, propose and vote on legislation, and
gather feedback from students to help improve campus life and university policies.
Each academic college will have at least one Senator and students will only be eligible
to represent a college for which they are currently enrolled.
Click to Apply
If you are interested in getting involved with SGA but do not want to run for an elected
position, there will be numerous opportunities following the election! Follow us on
social media @uhsga or check back on our website for more information.
Key Dates for Spring 2026 SGA Elections
- Last Day to Register as a Candidate: February 2, 2026
- Mandatory Candidate Information Session: February 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
- Campaign Dates: February 9 – March 5, 2026
- Voting Period: March 2–5, 2026
- Mandatory Retreat for Elected Student Leaders: March 28, 2026 (All Day)
- Term: April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027
