Troy Caldwell sat on his couch Wednesday night, suddenly quiet amid the cheers from friends and running mates around him.

Just a few seconds previous, he smiled and laughed with them. Just a few weeks ago, he found himself off the ballot in a petition controversy.

Just then, he felt the weight of the title “Student Association president.”

With a surprisingly high voter turnout for Wednesday’s one-day-only special election, Caldwell and his ticket swept into office in convincing fashion. All thoughts of potential run-off elections were a distant memory as he celebrated at an Edgebrook Drive apartment.

“Do you know how many people came up to me and said, ‘You know it’s goin’ another week?'” Caldwell said, feeling the effects of exhaustion with a tired smile and caved-in shoulders. “I was so leery, I didn’t know if I had it in me.”

Caldwell, vice president Jaime Garcia, treasurer Karega Harris and student trustee Alex Alaniz all escaped the wrath of the run-off, the expected and dreaded potential result of the election. After an invalidated first election last week, the ticket was glad to win and glad to say “over.”

“I know this is a great opportunity to lead,” said Caldwell, the current SA treasurer. “I appreciate everyone’s help. I appreciate that with all my heart.”

While just a few friends accompanied the winners soon after the announcement, the cellular phone continued its role as the election weapon of choice. Different phones received different calls, but the victory message remained the same.

Even some of the candidates were caught off-guard, expecting the results Thursday, not Wednesday night. But special election rules dictate only a two-hour waiting time for any potential appeals, election commissioner Felicia Gooch said. And although last week’s two-day turnout of 2,354 dwarfed Wednesday’s 1,734 total, the result was higher than expected.

“I’m very pleased with the turnout,” Gooch said. “We weren’t sure if people were going to come out and vote.”

Caldwell thanked the other candidates for a clean election. The season started off amid major controversy. An appeal to the Board of Elections momentarily took Caldwell off the ballot amid questions of illegal petitions, but an SA Supreme Court ruling found that the appeal filed by presidential candidate Ken Getty was filed too late under election guidelines, allowing Caldwell to return to the ballot.

Many campaign members stayed up until 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, making and placing signs, knowing that polls and campaigning began just an hour later. The dedication was a key to the election, Alaniz said, arriving late to the party after skipping out of work.

“It was just being on campus and having voters see all the hard work we put into it,” said Alaniz, the current SA vice president.

Harris, who was dubbed a “young Caldwell,” said he’s excited to work with organizations and their financial needs.

“I’m speechless,” he said. “From all the hard work, the fliers and the signs, it all paid off.”

The SA executives officially will take office May 15.