The controversial Fresno State student elections concluded Thursday with Camalah Saleh winning the president’s post by a wide margin.

Saleh is involved in a multitude of groups, including Students for Palestinian Liberation, the League of Women Voters, and the Maddy Institute.

“We are so excited and I’m so thankful for every vote, every comment, every post, and thank you to everyone who voted even if it wasn’t a vote for us,” Saleh said in a statement to The Collegian. “I’m humbled and proud to be the next ASI president.”

Saleh brings a wealth of political experience to the position. She has served as an intern in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, and Fresno City Council. She also is a California Democratic Party delegate.

Saleh is a third-year student majoring in political science and communications, and a member of the Smittcamp Family Honors College.

According to her Maddy Institute profile, Saleh’s “ultimate goal is to give back to her community by establishing an immigration law firm in Sanger … the town her family migrated to when she was three.”

Guadalupe Zamudio Telles and Carlie Hall were the other candidates in the race for president of Associated Students, Inc.

Fresno State Administration Targeted My Campaign: Hall

Hall’s campaign generated much of the controversy and attracted media attention from beyond the campus.

“From the beginning, it has been made clear that Fresno State’s faculty is biased against any student who dares to think differently than the ultra-liberal viewpoint,” Hall said.

Hall said that that the “Next Step” slate, featuring two conservative students and one Democrat, was targeted by Fresno State’s administration, and the university’s student newspaper.

A Fresno State spokesman told GV Wire after reaching out for comment again that “at this time, we will not be commenting on the matter.”

Valentina Saldaña, the Collegian’s editor-in-chief, said: “The Collegian stands by our reporting and coverage of the ASI election. We have given all sides fair coverage and no outside organization has any influence in what is published.”

Students Vote for Saleh Overwhelmingly

Saleh gathered 1,312 votes and Zamudio Telles finished second with 894 votes. Hall, the current Senator of Veteran Affairs, received 636 votes.

Saleh’s running mate, Danielle Vu, clinched the Vice President for External Affairs position with 1,985 votes. Ava Tingey, running under the “Next Step” slate with Hall, had 798 votes.

Dayanara Guzman received 1,784 votes, becoming the Vice President of Finance and dealing another loss to the “Next Step” slate as Seth Borba trailed with 926 votes.

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Election Gets Controversial

The short campaign period, just under a month, was jam packed with alleged violations, controversy, and debate.

The “Next Step” slate received multiple campaign violations and Fresno State President Saul Jiménez-Sandoval created a committee to investigate alleged misconduct after the Student Court , which normally would handle such issues, had a member resign.

Hall sought legal counsel and her attorney sent two cease-and-desist letters to the university.