Arwa Hanin Elrayess has made history by winning the Oxford Union election for Trinity Term 2026, the university’s student paper reports.

With 757 votes, the philosophy, politics, and economics student emerged victorious in the fiercely contested election, 155 votes ahead of rival Liza Barkova.

Mohamed Elrayess, her father, praised her win on LinkedIn, claiming that she is the first Algerian, Palestinian, and Arab woman elected to the office.

Elrayess ran on a platform of bringing stability back to society and promised to keep domestic conflicts apart from the Union's deliberations. She claimed that recent problems with governance had diverted attention from the Union's main goal.

One of the most well-known student-run debating groups in the world, the Oxford Union, frequently invites well-known speakers on global issues. A discussion on India-Pakistan relations earlier this year attracted notice when the Indian delegation abruptly withdrew.

In an interview with Cherwell, Arwa stated that the Union was going through "extremely difficult times" and needed a new beginning, emphasizing openness, financial accountability, and its status as a forum for free expression.

She also contributed to the documentary Heart of a Protest, which examined UK pro-Palestine protests.

Recent years have seen an increase in tensions within the Union. Both Moosa Harraj and former president George Abaraonye were subject to no-confidence motions.

After Israr Khan in 2024, Harraj was the second Pakistani student to lead the Union in less than a year.

Shahmir Aziz, a graduate of Aitchison College, is presently a member of the Secretary's Committee, demonstrating the continued strength of Pakistani representation.