Indian-origin Democrat Ghazala Hashmi has made history by winning the Virginia lieutenant governor’s race, defeating Republican John Reid. Hashmi’s victory makes her the first Muslim and South Asian American to hold this position in the state. Her Senate seat, representing the 15th District, will now be filled through a special election.
Hashmi began her political journey in 2019 when she flipped a Republican-held state Senate seat in a surprising win. Her leadership grew quickly, and by 2024 she became Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, overseeing key Democratic priorities such as reproductive freedom and public education.
Born in Hyderabad in 1964, Hashmi moved to the United States at age four. She graduated with honors from Georgia Southern University and earned a PhD in American literature from Emory University.
Before entering politics, Hashmi spent nearly three decades as a professor at the University of Richmond and Reynolds Community College, where she founded the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
She lives in Richmond with her husband, Azhar Rafiq, and their daughters, Yasmin and Noor. Hashmi continues to advocate for equity in housing, education, health care, and environmental justice.
