Presidential candidate Matt Bourke and vice presidential candidate Martha Pangborn won the Residence Halls Association election, RHA Vice President Rachel Thomas announced 6:30 p.m. Friday at Traditions Plaza.

Bourke and Pangborn, both freshmen, received 192 votes from residents. Their opponent, freshman Emily Aiken, who ran alone, received 162 votes. A total of 354 votes were cast in the election, down 54 percent from the 2015 election, which had a total of 769 votes cast.

“I don’t know what to say,” Pangborn said. “I’m shaking, and I’m between crying and giggling right now.”

Bourke said it was an honor to run against someone like Aiken, who is very involved in RHA. He also said he knows there is work to do leading up to and during his term.

“I’m really glad we’re going to be able to show RHA what we can do in the next year and show Mizzou what we can do,” Bourke said. “I’m really excited to get to get to work.”

Aiken said that she plans to run for RHA Speaker of Congress in April. Earlier in the election process, [legislation was passed by Congress](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2016/2/23/residence-halls-association-allow-another-slate-en/) that allowed Aiken to run as a one-person slate after her running mate, Kyle Roberts, dropped out of the race.

“It’s tough, but I love RHA so much,” Aiken said. “I don’t want to leave it next year.”

RHA President Billy Donley said though he and Thomas are not leaving their positions until the end of April, he is excited for new leaders.

“This next step is very important for us because not only do we have to continue representing the students, but we also have to train the next leaders,” Donley said. “I’m extremely excited, and I think they’re both going to do great.”

_Edited by Waverly Colville | wcolville@themaneater.com_