What began as a routine Student Government Association presidential debate at Morehouse College ended abruptly on March 2 after election officials removed candidate Damarion King from the ballot. King defied a Board of Elections sanction tied to a campaign endorsement video.
The decision halted the debate and pushed the presidential race into a runoff between candidates Dwayne Jones and Christopher Lambry. The incident sparked debate among students about whether election rules were enforced fairly.
Endorsement video sparks controversy
The controversy began earlier that afternoon when the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Assistants Program posted a video endorsing King for SGA president. The Board of Elections said the post violated rules governing campaign activity after the official deadline.
In an exclusive interview with The Maroon Tiger, King said he had no knowledge of the endorsement.
“I knew nothing about it,” King said. “As a candidate, I’ve been following all our Board of Election rules. And as vice president of the Chapel Assistants, I’ve been following our constitution.”
King said the Board cited Article 3.3, which governs “soft campaigning” on election day. However, he argued the rule should not apply because the debate took place before voting began.
“Monday was a debate day, not election day,” King said.
The Maroon Tiger contacted the Board of Elections for comment but had not received a response by the time of publication.
Defiance at the debate
Despite the sanction barring him from speaking, King walked onto the stage when officials called the remaining presidential candidates forward. Members of the audience encouraged him to stay.
“I’ve been protesting against Morehouse for far too long,” King told The Maroon Tiger. He said the decision reflected the message of his campaign.
“When I was talking about how they failed, I wasn’t just talking about SGA or a specific person,” King said. “I was talking about Morehouse in general.”
SGA debates coordinator Amir Stanley and Board of Elections Chairman Dohnoven Dixon warned King that if he remained on stage or spoke, they would remove him from the ballot. They told him he could remain eligible if he stepped down.
King chose to stay. Election officials then removed him from the ballot. The decision triggered reactions from the crowd, and the debate ended abruptly as all four candidates left the stage without delivering remarks.
Responsibility for the endorsement
Among those in the crowd was Morehouse junior Alonzo Brinson, president of the Chapel Assistants Program. Brinson said he posted the endorsement video on his own and did not consult King beforehand.
“I acted in my official capacity as president and by myself,” Brinson said. “I did not consult Damarion in this process. I acted alone, and it was my decision. Damarion should never be punished for somebody else’s action.”
Students divided over decision
The incident quickly divided students over whether the Board of Elections handled the situation fairly.
Morehouse junior Matthew Brock Jr. said the decision raised broader questions about the election process.
“I think the Board did one of two things,” Brock said. “They either purposely bent the rules to get Damarion out, or they made a mistake and didn’t understand the rules and chose to stand on that mistake.”
Other students said King appeared to accept the consequences of his actions when he chose to remain on stage despite the sanction.
Candidates reflect on disruption
Runoff presidential candidates Christopher Lambry and Dwayne Jones reflected on how the moment unfolded and its impact on the debate.
“I think two things can be true at once,” Lambry said. “I felt proud that Damarion was standing up for what he believed in, but we have to be cognizant of how our actions impact others.”
Lambry said the disruption also affected the candidates who had prepared to speak.
“In that moment, the debates became less about the hard work that every candidate should have been proud of,” Lambry said.
Jones said he believed the Board of Elections acted appropriately within the election guidelines.
“It states in our constitution that a form of hard campaigning can disqualify a candidate from the election,” Jones said. “I believe the Board of Elections did the best they could with the situation that they had.”
Both Lambry and Jones encouraged students to remain engaged in the election runoff and to carefully consider who they want representing the student body.
“I would say to really take time and see who you want to represent the student body,” Jones said. “And what change you want to see at Morehouse College.”
Runoff ahead after controversial debate
SGA election runoffs will take place after spring break. Students will receive the results once they return to campus.
Students remain divided on whether the incident revealed problems within the SGA election process or reflected appropriate enforcement of campaign rules.
The confrontation during the March 2 debate is likely to remain one of the most notable moments of the 2026 SGA 
election season.
