Georgetown University students elected the 2026 Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA) executive amid concerns over federal intervention in higher education. 

The GUSA Election Commission announced Oct. 24 that students elected Darius Wagner (CAS ʼ27) and Nazgol Missaghi (CAS ʼ28) as president and vice president. In addition to advocating against crackdowns on student gatherings, Wagner and Missaghi’s campaign centered on encouraging the university to reject federal attacks on higher education, which some Wagner/Missaghi voters said is an important responsibility for a student government in Washington, D.C.

Wagner said his GUSA administration will aim to defend academic freedom, which students strongly value. 

“The student body overwhelmingly supports their freedoms, academic freedoms, their freedoms to exist as college students, their freedoms to talk about whatever they wish to on their college campus without the federal government controlling what, how and where they can learn,” Wagner told The Hoya. 

Ignacio Loaiza Sandoval (CAS ’28) said he voted for the Wagner/Missaghi ticket because of their commitment to activism and pushing back against federal intervention.

“College students have always been politically active,” Loaiza Sandoval told The Hoya. “And I think that’s a good thing. I think we all came here to be close to the center of action here in D.C., and I think that as the student association, they have a very unique role to advocate for us and our needs, but also our values.”

President Donald Trump has ramped up attacks on higher education institutions, including cutting research funding and restricting international students’ visas. On Sept. 28, Interim University President Robert M. Groves said in an email to faculty and staff that the university is forecasted to lose $35 million and see a 20% decline in international graduate student enrollment as a result of federal actions.

Missaghi said she and Wagner will urge the university to push back against federal actions that threaten students, including restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

“We will advocate for the university to take clear, public stances against federal overreach into higher education, particularly around issues like DEI restrictions, threats to international and immigrant students and attacks on reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights,” Missaghi wrote to The Hoya. 

Wagner and Missaghi advocated for reducing amplified noise policies and reinstating informal warnings from residential assistants (RAs) to allow student gatherings. Wagner and Missaghi’s campaign also championed ending legacy admissions and increasing funding for financial aid. 

Loaiza Sandoval said he believes Wagner and Missaghi will be able to follow through on their platform by working directly with the university administration.

“I think they outlined many actionable things that they can actually get done through their already-built connections with admin,” Loaiza Sandoval said. 

Some students worry that Wagner and Missaghi’s plan to oppose the federal government could ultimately negatively affect Georgetown.

Patrick van Eyck (SFS ʼ28), who voted against the Wagner/Missaghi ticket, said GUSA should avoid actions that could draw negative attention from the Trump administration.

“I think that when we would be attacking the Trump admin to the detriment of Georgetown, that’s not necessarily a good thing for GUSA to be doing,” Van Eyck told The Hoya. “We should be supporting these groups that are out here protesting the Trump admin heavily and as much as we can, but I would worry about Georgetown coming under direct attack from the Trump admin.”

This year’s election recorded 37% voter turnout, with 2,940 students casting valid ballots — a 79.2% increase in votes cast from the 2024 GUSA election. 

In the first round of ranked-choice voting, Wagner and Missaghi received 1,402 votes, Saahil Rao (SFS ʼ27) and Zadie Weaver (CAS ʼ28) received 1,143 votes and Luke Hughes (SFS ʼ27) and Mikey Williams (SFS ʼ28) received 395 votes. In the second round, after Hughes and Williams were eliminated, Wagner and Missaghi received 1,554 votes while Rao and Weaver received 1,386.

Wagner said the high voter turnout demonstrated strong student engagement in campus issues. 

“There was record turnout on both sides, which is commendable, because students are engaged in the process,” Wagner said. 

Rao said he wishes Wagner success during his time as student body president. 

“Vice President Wagner has been a superb servant to Georgetown,” Rao wrote to The Hoya. “Best of luck to him in his administration. It was an honor to run against him.”

Many voters prioritized experience when casting their ballots, citing Wagner’s current role as GUSA vice president, Rao’s experience as GUSA senate speaker and Weaver’s experience as vice speaker. Hughes and Missaghi were not previously in GUSA, and Williams is a former senator.

Jillian Altherr (CAS ʼ29) said she voted for Rao/Weaver because of their senate background. 

“The reason I voted for Rao/Weaver was because of their experience in the legislative branch, so I had more faith that they would be able to get things done more easily,” Altherr told The Hoya. 

Altherr added that she was concerned Missaghi had no prior GUSA experience. 

“I just don’t know how much experience she has,” Altherr said. “It was never advertised to me that much.”

Missaghi is the vice president of internal for the Iranian Cultural Society and a leader for the pre-orientation program first-year orientation to community involvement (FOCI) through the Center for Social Justice.

Saniya Bhagwat (SFS ʼ28), who voted for Wagner/Missaghi, said she trusts Missaghi’s leadership abilities.

“Experience is experience,” Bhagwat told The Hoya. “If someone has shown the qualities of someone who’s a good leader elsewhere, the skills are still transferable. She’s not going to lose her ability to be a good leader just because she’s never been on GUSA before.”

Van Eyck said that despite his initial reservations, he is optimistic about the Wagner/Missaghi administration.

“A lot can be done by GUSA, and I’m excited for, hopefully, what the Darius Wagner admin will do,” van Eyck said. 

Wagner said he hopes to unify the student body around shared goals for improving the campus. 

“I think nobody’s ever going to agree with 100% of the things I advocate for, but I do know that we all come around and want to make this school a better place, and that will be my mission,” Wagner said.