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Sen. Hashmi expresses concern over Virginia’s drop in business rank
Her remarks came after Virginia dropped from first to fourth place in CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business rankings.
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Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 11, Jul 2025
- 15:17 EDT
- 20
State Senator Ghazala Hashmi / Facebook
Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi (D-SD15) raised concerns over the state’s declining position in national business rankings.
Her remarks came after Virginia dropped from first to fourth place in CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business rankings.
Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Hashmi pointed to federal job cuts and economic policies as key drivers of the slide, warning that these developments have put core economic priorities at risk.
Also Read: Sen. Hashmi slams ‘politically motivated’ University of Virginia president exit
“Virginians across the state remain quite clear about their main priorities: reducing the high costs of living, creating new good-paying jobs, and expanding our state economy,” Hashmi said. “Unfortunately, today’s CNBC rankings show that the recklessness from Washington has put those priorities at risk and moved Virginians further away from the thriving economy they want to see.”
Hashmi, who also chairs the Senate Education and Health Committee, said Virginia needs leadership that will push back against policies dismantling healthcare, education, and food assistance programs. She called for a stronger focus on workforce development and job creation initiatives.
“With the increased challenges emerging from federal legislation that dismantles health care, education, food assistance programs, and so much more, we must focus attention directly on securing economic and workforce development programs that create more jobs and attract new investments to our state,” she said.
She also reiterated her campaign message on social media, stating: “Instead of state leadership that continues to rubber stamp the chaos of Republican leadership in Washington, we need leaders who will fight for Virginians.”
If elected Lieutenant Governor, Hashmi said she would prioritize long-term economic resilience by investing in education, infrastructure, and a skilled labor force. “I will ensure our state is the best in the nation to work, start or grow a business, and thrive,” she said.
In the CNBC 2025 report, while the state maintained strong performance in education and infrastructure, analysts cited job losses tied to federal employment cuts and new tariffs as reasons for its overall rank decline.
According to the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center, Virginia is projected to lose nearly 32,000 jobs this year. The state’s unemployment rate, currently at 3.2 percent, could rise to between 3.9 and 4.7 percent in 2026.
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