Indian-origin Democrat Ghazala Hashmi has made history by winning the Virginia lieutenant governor’s race, defeating Republican candidate John Reid. With this victory, Hashmi has become the first Indian American and the first Muslim to be elected to statewide office in Virginia.
Hashmi, a former college professor, won the Democratic nomination earlier this year after a closely contested primary. As lieutenant governor, she will preside over the Virginia State Senate, where Democrats currently hold a narrow 21-19 majority. The lieutenant governor also casts the deciding vote in case of a tie.
Born in Hyderabad in 1964, Hashmi moved to the United States with her family at the age of four, settling in Georgia. Her father, Professor Zia Hashmi, is an alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University and a retired professor of international studies, while her mother, Tanveer Hashmi, graduated from Osmania University.
After completing her PhD in American Literature from Emory University, Hashmi taught for nearly three decades, first at the University of Richmond and later at Reynolds Community College, where she also founded the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
Hashmi entered politics in 2019, defeating Republican Glen Sturtevant in a surprise victory to join the Virginia Senate, becoming its first Muslim woman and South Asian American member. In 2024, she was appointed Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, where she championed reproductive rights, education, and environmental justice.
“I have dedicated my efforts to improving the lives of others,” Hashmi says on her official website, highlighting her focus on affordable housing, healthcare, and equity in education.
Her recent election marks a significant milestone for representation in U.S. politics. “This is not just my victory,” she said in her acceptance speech, “it is a victory for every immigrant, every woman, and every person who believes in the promise of equality and opportunity.”
Hashmi lives in Richmond with her husband, Azhar Rafiq, and their two daughters, Yasmin and Noor.
