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Ghazala Hashmi wins Virginia lieutenant governor race
Born in India, Hashmi becomes the first Muslim woman elected to statewide office in the United States.
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Pranavi Sharma - Tue, 04, Nov 2025
- 23:09 EST
- 35
Ghazala Hashmi. / Image : X@SenatorHashmi
Ghazala Hashmi, a Democrat and state senator of Indian origin, has won the race for Virginia’s lieutenant governor, according to projections released Nov. 4. Hashmi becomes the first Muslim American woman elected to statewide office in the United States.
With 80 percent of votes counted, Hashmi secured 54.3 percent of the vote, defeating Republican candidate John Reid, who received 45.7 percent. Total votes cast stood at more than 2.8 million, according to figures.
Hashmi’s victory marks another milestone in her political career. In 2019, she became the first Muslim and first South Asian American elected to the Virginia Senate, representing a district southwest of Washington, D.C.
ALSO READ: Senator Hashmi leads Virginia Lt. Gov race: poll
Born in India, Hashmi moved to the United States when she was four years old. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class, earned her bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University, and later received a doctorate in American literature from Emory University.
The lieutenant governor of Virginia presides over the state Senate and casts tie-breaking votes. The position is also first in line to succeed the governor in case of a vacancy.
Hashmi’s win came on the same night that former Rep. Abigail Spanberger was projected to become the first woman elected governor of Virginia. Both Democrats ran separate statewide campaigns, as Virginia elects its governor and lieutenant governor independently.
Last month, speaking to The Washington Post, Hashmi said she hoped her campaign would serve as a statement against prejudice. “We’re really showing the rest of the country that Virginia is in a position where we embrace diversity,” she said.
Hashmi narrowly won the Democratic primary in June, defeating former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney and state Sen. Aaron Rouse. She drew support from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and received backing from Rep. Ro Khanna of California during the primary.
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