Eemaan  Wahidullah

Hello everyone,

This is a statement I have dreamed of writing since I was 18, driven by my passion for serving and uplifting our campus community.
I stand here because of those who came before me, my family, my community, and the leaders, workers, and activists who made space for someone like me to lead a greater distance. And for the multifaceted identity I carry in this election, I see this moment not just as personal but also as historical.

As a Santa Barbara local and one of the longest-serving current senators, I have grown alongside this institution. I have seen its challenges, its rebuilding, and its potential. Through it all, one thing has never changed: my commitment to the people of UCSB.

Leadership is not power; it is servitude. It is listening, showing up, and turning student voices into action. Through my work across campus, in underserved communities, and the many leadership roles I carry across Santa Barbara County, I have built systems, passed legislation, and strengthened accountability to better serve students and our community.

But our work is not done. We cannot claim to support Isla Vista without addressing food insecurity, housing struggles, accessibility barriers, and the needs of marginalized students. A community is only as strong as its support for those most impacted.

I carry many identities: student, advocate, artist, writer, poet, future doctor, and daughter, but they all lead me to the same purpose: to serve. Even without an executive title, through the communities I all love, I have created real change.

Imagine what we could build together if I were your first Afghan American president in UCSB history.

This campaign is not just about us, but about our shared goals and about demonstrating that leadership is a collective effort rooted in community.
I ask for your vote.

Eemaan Wahidullah