SGA presidential candidates Elisha Diaz and Shaun Smith (bottom) react to the announcement of a run-off election. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

A run-off election was announced between Student Government Association presidential candidates Shaun Smith (REDVolution) and Elisha Diaz (The “We” Party II) after Smith was nine votes short of gaining the necessary 50 percent of the vote.

Diaz trailed by 16 percent, with 32.8 percent of the vote. Perez finished a distant third, earning 17.7 percent.

“Half a percent is painfully close to the majority,” Smith said. “But I think that both Sam (Perez) and Eli (Diaz) ran a really good race, and I’m excited to see what the turnout is in the next couple of days.”

Out of the 2,929 students voted in this year’s election, only 1,751 voted for the presidential and vice presidential candidate.

“We fought well,” Diaz said. “It was six people (in The “We” Party II) versus 22 people (in REDVolution). So for being at such a disadvantage, I think we did a really good job, especially against a party that’s been in power for five years.”

The run-off election will be March 10 and 11. The rest of the election results may be viewed here.

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“Run-off announced between SGA presidential candidates Diaz, Smith” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar