WASHINGTON – Democratic Party candidate Ghazala Hashmi has made history by winning the lieutenant governor race in the US state of Virginia, becoming the first Muslim and Asian American to hold this position.
The latest reports said that Hashmi secured over 55 percent of the votes, defeating her Republican opponent John Reed, who received around 44 percent.
The 61-year-old Democrat had announced her candidacy for lieutenant governor in 2024. Known for her strong campaign and progressive stance, she won the Democratic primary in June by a significant margin, defeating five opponents to secure her party’s nomination.
Before this victory, Hashmi had already created history as the first Muslim and South Asian American member of the Virginia State Senate. She entered politics in response to the Trump administration’s travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries.
Hashmi’s political journey began in 2019 when she defeated incumbent Senator Glen Sturtevant in Virginia’s 10th District. She was re-elected in 2023 and later contested from the 15th District, where she won with more than 60 percent of the votes against Hayden Fisher.
Born in Hyderabad, India, in 1964, Hashmi moved to the United States at the age of four with her mother and elder brother while her father was pursuing a PhD in International Relations. She earned her undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University and later completed her PhD in American Literature from Emory University in Atlanta.
Hashmi has lived in the Richmond area since 1991 with her husband, Azhar, who hails from Pakistan. The couple has two daughters. Before entering politics, she worked as a professor for 30 years.
As a state senator, Ghazala Hashmi has led several significant legislative initiatives. She introduced the Right to Contraception Act, which was passed by both legislative chambers but later vetoed by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Hashmi has also been a strong advocate for public education, voting rights, gun violence prevention, environmental protection, affordable housing, and accessible healthcare.
A lifelong educator and avid reader, Hashmi says she dreamed of becoming a professor since the age of 12. Coming from a family of educators, her parents regard her latest political achievement as a moment of great pride.
