The results are in for the 2025 UCDSU Executive Elections. All uncontested candidates were elected on the first count, while Michael Roche won the Presidential race by a margin of almost 1,200 votes. Meanwhile, UCD students voted overwhelmingly to rejoin USI.
The results are in for the 2025 UCDSU Executive Elections. All uncontested candidates were elected on the first count, while Michael Roche won the Presidential race by a margin of almost 1,200 votes. Meanwhile, UCD students voted overwhelmingly to rejoin USI.
President
In the only contested Sabbatical Officer Race, President, Michael Roche was declared winner on the first count after receiving 2,899 votes to Tia Cullen’s 1,707. Saskia McCormack-Eiffe followed with 520 votes, whilst RON secured 211 votes.
With a total valid poll of 5,337 votes for the Presidential Race, Roche’s victory saw him earn 54.3% of the vote, with Cullen polling 32%, McCormack-Eiffe 9.7% and RON 4%
Speaking to the University Observer after his election success, Roche commented, “It’s honestly amazing to be honest, it wasn’t the outcome that I had expected.” He continued, “My campaign started really because I wanted to change the Union, I think we can now actually achieve that, and I’m just over the moon. I’m in total shock that it’s actually happened.”
He continued and wished to thank his campaign manager Aoife Ni? Dhoibhlein, “John Ryan for all of his support over the campaign, I’d like to thank Alice Murphy for Social Media, The Returning Officer, Tom Carolan, James Connolly.” Finally, he wanted to thank the students of UCD, “it’s honestly more than I could ever have imagined, now I want to work and deliver for you over the next coming year.”
Speaking to the University Observer after the announcement of the results, Presidential candidate Tia Cullen stated:
“I am happy about the results. I mean, students voted for what they wanted at the end of the day. I am really happy that we reached the quorum for the Constitutional referendum… and congratulations to Michael for being elected President.” As the current Education Officer, she also commented on the results of the Education race: “I am also delighted that Matt won in the Education race. I look forward to handing over the Education role to him in June and look forward to representing students in my capacities as Education Officer until I finish…. Finally, she concluded: “Fair play to everyone who voted, I appreciate everyone who supported me, and good luck to Micheal in his term as President.”
Speaking to the University Observer following the election results, presidential candidate Saskia McCormack-Eiffe said, “Wasn’t the result that I wanted but it’s great to see students turn out to vote, I think it’s the highest turnout we’ve ever had. I’m just delighted people got involved. I really hope people stay involved, whether it’s their first time or their fiftieth time interacting with the union, it’s to continue that involvement throughout the year. The union won’t change the world but the people involved in the union will change the world.” She also added, “Massively well done to Michael and Tia, they were great people to run against.”
Education
In the Education Race, Matthew Mion was elected on the first count having secured 3,490 votes, compared to RON’s 607, securing 85.2% of the vote. In his speech after his election Mion stated his excitement to get to work, but pointed to finishing his degree as his next goal.
Welfare
In the uncontested Welfare Officer Race, Emilia O’Hagan was elected on the first count, collecting 3,516 votes to RON’s 449, securing 88.7% of the vote.
Campaigns & Engagement
In the Campaigns & Engagement Race, the sole candidate for the role Hazen E. Griffin was elected on the first count. Griffins secured 3,228 votes from a total valid poll of 4,007. RON received 779 votes. Griffin therefore won with 80.6% of the vote.
ENTS
In the ENTS race, Lily Gnojewski was elected on the first count after securing 3,308 votes from a total valid poll of 3,918. RON received 610 votes, giving Gnojewski a winning margin of 84.4%
Graduate
In the final sabbatical race, which was also uncontested, Shreyansh Jagtap was elected on the first count after securing 914 votes from the total poll of 1,176 votes. RON received 262 votes, meaning that Jagtap won with 77.7% of the votes. Jagtap therefore had the highest percentage of RON votes of any of the sabbatical candidates.
College Officers
In the College Officers’ election, every quota was reached and no position was re-opened for nominations.
The College Officer races for Arts and Humanities and Business Quinn were uncontested. Jessica Klein was elected as Arts and Humanities CO with 591 votes, while Rabeya Boshree was elected as Business Quinn CO with 163 votes.
Callan Ó Cléirigh ran an uncontested campaign for Oifigeach na Gaeilge / Irish Language Officer and was elected with 3457 votes at first count.
Marko Sicic was elected next Health Science Campaign Officer with 281 votes, while his opponent in the race, Ben Neary, obtained 203.
In the race for becoming the next Law College Officer, Aisling Murphy surpassed Ayman Memon by 60 votes, with 220 and 160 votes respectively.
Gemma Roche obtained 486 votes, enough to secure her the position of Science College Officer. Ivan Ambep and NIck Haynes obtained 200 and 208 votes respectively.
Hannah Watson was elected as the new Social Science College Officer with 479 votes, surpassing her opponent Angelos Ntalachansis, who obtained 184.
Richview’s new Architecture College Officer is Bianca Munteanu, elected with 72 votes over Mateusz Polinski, who got 59.
Reporting by Oisín Gaffey, Juan Carlos Luque Lopéz, Safreen AC, Adam Schmitz, Orla Mahon