Getting to know the BYUSA 2026 candidates

BYUSA elections are right around the corner, and three candidates are campaigning to fill the role of president.

Jayne Jonas is running for vice president, and her running mate for president is Abigail Hooper. Their campaign focuses on the impact each individual can have.

Our campaign theme is called 'Be the One,' Jonas said. Its this idea that students on campus can be the one to make the change that they want to see on campus.

Annie Walker, another presidential candidate, is running with Salma Al-Shuqairat. They are focused on helping students reach their full potential.

Our campaign theme is 'Aspire Higher,' Walker said. The overall goal of this is to help students get from where they are now to where they want to be one day, and were doing that through our three pillars, which are service, belonging and development.

Hudson Vogel is running alongside Tate Parr. Their campaign is all about aligning students and BYUSA with the BYU mission.

So our slogan is 'Preserving Our Purpose,' Vogel said. BYUs purpose, your individual purpose, as well as BYUSAs purpose. When those things all align, its a really exciting thing that can happen.

The candidates work together with campus organizations and get involved in campus events.

Wed love to do more cross-collaboration between BYUSA and other clubs or even other organizations like the multicultural center or the first-generation students, Jonas said.

Walker and Vogel want students to bring their concerns to BYUSA so they can improve student experiences.

We are wanting to enact a needs list for any student to come up and express a need that they have, Walker said. This would be an opportunity for us as a presidency to address the needs that students are experiencing and allow them to really have a voice.

I would love to go out and interact with students outside of just the Wilk, Vogel said. Meaning, go to the Bean, go to the Tanner, go to the Brimhall. Lets get out of, just, the Wilk.

Voting day is Thursday, Feb. 26, and all students are invited to cast a vote to make the BYU student experience even better.