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Ghazala Hashmi sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Hashmi took her oath of office by placing her hand on the Quran during the inauguration ceremony at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.
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Rwittika Chakraborty
- Mon, 19, Jan 2026
- 01:07 EST
- 9
Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Ghazala Hashmi. / Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (ltgov.virginia.gov/)
Ghazala Hashmi was sworn in as the Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia on Jan. 17, making history as the first Indian American to win a statewide office there. She is also the first Muslim woman to win statewide office anywhere in the history of the United States.
The 61-year-old Democrat defeated Republican John Reid in the 2025 election and succeeded Republican Winsome Earle-Sears as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. She will serve as President of the Senate and preside over the Senate.
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Hashmi took her oath of office, administered by Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Cleo Powell, by placing her hand on the Quran during the inauguration ceremony at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.
Following her swearing in, where her husband and daughters were in attendance, Hashmi posted on Facebook,
“Today, I was incredibly honored to take my Oath of Office as the 43rd Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. I look forward to working alongside our Governor and administration to build a Commonwealth focused on affordability, opportunity, dignity, and justice.”
Prior to taking office as Lieutenant Governor, Hashmi served in the Virginia State Senate representing the 15th District for two terms.
Born in Hyderabad in 1964, Hashmi spent her early years in the Malakpet area before moving to the U.S. at the age of four. She earned her undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University, a master’s degree from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in American Studies from Emory University.
Hashmi has decades-long teaching experience at Virginia’s community colleges, and prrior to her election to the State Senate, she was in community leadership positions, serving on local boards and commissions and working closely with parents, educators, and civic leaders to strengthen public education and expand opportunity.
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