The Cambridge Union opened voting for its Michaelmas 2026 elections on Thursday (12/02), with only the role of Speakers Officer contested.

Hustings for the positions of President, Debates Officer, Speakers Officer and Social Events Officer were held in the chamber on Thursday evening. For the second term in a row, no candidate is standing for Equalities Officer.

Union elections are held two terms before the successful candidates take office.

This round of elections has been less competitive than previous terms, with two positions contested for Easter 2026 and three positions contested for both Lent 2026 and Michaelmas 2025. The role of President was contested in all three rounds of elections held in 2025.

Isaac James, a classicist at Wolfson College and current Union Equalities Officer, is running unopposed for the position of Union President.

This comes after the Union’s Debates Officer, Pollyanna Greene-Wright, resigned earlier this month following an investigation into alleged electoral misconduct, which resulted in her disqualification from running alongside James for Union President.

At the hustings, James said he would be the second mature student to serve as Union President, and the first to have come through the foundation year programme. He argued that this election would send a message that “all are welcome here,” particularly to students from the 93% Club and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).

James claimed that he understood the demands of the role, citing more than 10 years of prior career experience alongside his leadership positions at Cambridge, including serving as Treasurer and Vice President for the Wolfson College Students’ Association (WCSA).

Of the “twelve pledges for Michaelmas” outlined in his manifesto, James highlighted his plans to introduce new tiers within subcommittees, release the term card before term starts, establish a new income-focused subcommittee, and “demystify” the Union.

James was asked about the fact that one candidate was disqualified from the presidential race, and the possibility of nominations reopening in light of the recent launch of a campaign to reopen nominations (RON) by Union members.

He maintained that democracy had been upheld, noting that there was no candidate who was “eligible and actually wants to do this role”. He described running for Union President as an “emotional task” for which the candidate was “not prepared […] from the very beginning”.

One audience member alleged that James’ manifesto had been created using AI and included typos, to which James responded that “people forget that we are also students,” while emphasising that candidates are not allowed to spend money on their campaigns, and that “the ends justify the means”.

Another attendee highlighted that this was the third election James had run in, having lost to Ted Yip for Debates Officer in Easter 2026 and been unopposed for Equalities Officer in Michaelmas 2025. James argued that he had shown, through means beyond his prior election results, that he was suitable for the role.

Jack Peters, incoming Union President for Easter 2026, asked James how he would defend the Union’s core value of free speech as President. James responded that the “only limit” on who would be invited to speak at the Union would be “people inciting violence,” while acknowledging that these decisions would be made collectively with Union committee members.

James was also asked why no endorsements were listed on his campaign material. He said his “whole ethos is not about who your friends are,” citing the added challenges of campaigning as a mature student. He claimed that he did not want to be “the most endorsed” candidate, but rather the one members consider most capable.

Ethan Lee and Benjamin Pearce are running against each other for the contested role of Speakers Officer.

Ethan Lee, a first-year HSPS student at Hughes Hall, pledged to promote collaboration and diversity, including by introducing post-event feedback forms. He also promised to facilitate greater interaction between Union members and guest speakers.

If elected, Lee said he would become the first Asian Speakers Officer in the Union’s history. He has received endorsements from figures such as current Equalities Officer Jaipreet Kaur Lully.

Benjamin Pearce, a first-year historian at Emmanuel College, claimed his main goal was to attract the “biggest possible names” to the Union in order to “bring the masses back to our events”.

Pearce pledged to improve the system for asking questions at debates, suggesting the introduction of an app and more head-to-head format debates. He cited Charlie Kirk’s visit to the Union last year as an event which sparked “massive engagement”.

He also criticised the current system for inviting guest speakers to the Union, describing it as “sending hundreds of emails and often not getting responses”. Instead, he said he would draw on connections with alumni and past guest speakers, who he claimed have access to “the world’s most incredible people”.

Pearce said his background at a non-selective state school that had not sent any students to Oxbridge in four years left him well-equipped to ensure the Union is accessible to all. He is endorsed by figures including Debates Officer Ted Yip.

Anusha Salhan, a first-year historian at Newnham College and the Union’s current Head of Guest Liaison, is running unopposed for Debates Officer.

Salhan emphasised her aim to “put every single member back into the Union”. She pledged to introduce guaranteed student speaker slots on both sides of each motion and shorten floor speeches to encourage wider participation.

Zainab Khan, a second-year historian at Homerton College, is running unchallenged for Social Events Officer. Khan promised to introduce a variety of events to the Union, from Afrobeats nights and ABBA singalongs to smaller, more relaxed gatherings, while ensuring freshers feel welcome and prices remain affordable.

Voting is taking place in-person at the Union from Thursday (12/03) to Sunday (15/03). Results will be announced on Sunday at around 9pm.