Joe Hesketh has won the by-election for the presidency of the Cambridge Union in Michaelmas 2026, with a narrow majority of eight votes.

Hesketh, the Speakers Officer for Lent Term, secured 63 votes to Pollyanna Greene-Wright’s 55, with two votes cast to re-open nominations.

The by-election comes after ‘re-open nominations’ for the presidential race won at the end of Lent term, in which Isaac James ran unopposed. Greene-Wright had intended to run, but was barred after being investigated for electoral misconduct.

Varsity understands that the RON result was unprecedented for the society, with no Union presidential elections in recent history having returned it.

Prior to last term’s election, Greene-Wright had resigned as Debates Officer, citing “consistent, protracted, institutional bullying”. The verdict reached by the Union’s Vice-President and returning officers has since been overturned.

Both candidates launched their online campaigns on Wednesday (29/04), and attended hustings on Thursday. Voting, open to all members of the Union, closed on Saturday (02/05) at 6pm.

The results were officially announced by the Union at 7pm on Monday (04/05).

Upon winning the election, Hesketh said: “It’s an honour which has very much left me out of words,” and congratulated Greene-Wright for “an outstanding campaign”.

Greene-Wright published a statement saying she was “immensely grateful to everyone who voted for me,” adding that Hesketh “will be a great president”.

Greene-Wright also told Varsity: “I am very grateful to everyone who believed in my vision for change at the Union and who supported my campaign. It was a very tight race, and I’m proud of how well we did.

“In particular, I’m proud of the diversity of endorsement and support I received, including from former and current Standing Officers, heads and members of Full Committee, PolSoc execs and so forth – it really was a broad church. Joe ran a great campaign, and I’m sure will do a great job as president.”

Hesketh’s proposed policies focused on a termcard which “shouldn’t shy away from difficult policies,” but does not “platform online ragebait”. He also stressed the importance of visibility and updating the Union’s image “to fit the modern world” through an improved media strategy, working with JCRs and the SU, and communicating more frequently with members.

Greene-Wright’s campaign emphasised policies focused on a “bold” approach to debates, such as “ensuring more Head-to-Head events […] Charlie Kirk style,” and that “no topic is taboo in a free speech society”. Welfare was another focus in her manifesto, to “ensure cultural change so that all members feel seen, heard and respected”.

During hustings, Greene-Wright stated: “I think we need to put you back in the driver’s seat as members,” and avoid a sense of “spectator sports” during events. She also expressed a desire to have a welfare “cultural revolution”.

Hesketh cited the issue of an “unhealthy amount of time” being spent “asking people what works in this building,” emphasising the importance of “organising bodies […] working smoothly and cooperatively”. He pushed his policies relating to communication, arguing: “the Union cannot act as a cultural vacuum. We cannot be experts on every topic, nor can we pretend to be.”

During hustings, on being asked if candidates would allow a one-on-one debate with prominent far-right social media commentator Nick Fuentes, Greene-Wright said we must “take this at principle, which is that we’re a free speech society” with “a duty to push boundaries […] [and] a duty of care to our members”. Hesketh said he would not, stating there is a “thin line between engaging […] and just platforming ragebait”.

The final question was how both candidates would change the internal workings of the Union to avoid hostility. Greene-Wright asserted that “we have had a failure of culture recently, we do need to be honest about that,” and suggested a larger role for the review committee and using independent advisors more frequently. Hesketh argued again that “speaking to as many societies and relevant people” would improve people’s experience.

Hesketh’s presidency will begin in October, as the incoming Standing Committee prepares its Michaelmas events this term. This includes Anusha Salhan as Debates Officer, Benjamin Pearce as Speaker’s Officer, and Zainab Khan as Social Events Officer, who were all elected at the end of Lent Term 2026.