 "Democratic Ghazala Hashmi makes history as Virginia's next lieutenant governor. File image/AP")
Voters in Virginia have spoken and made history not once but twice. First, they voted to power Democrat Abigail Spanberger as governor, making her the first woman to hold the position in the state. They also voted for Democrat Ghazala Hashmi in the lieutenant governor’s race, making her the first Indian-origin and Muslim to win state-wide office in Virginia.
Hashmi beat out opponent Republican John Reid, a radio show host, to become the new lieutenant governor of Virginia — with CNN showing that Hashmi acquired 55.6 per cent of the votes cast compared to Reid’s 44.1 per cent.
Shortly after she was declared winner, she said in a speech: “This was possible because of the depth and breadth of the opportunities made available in this country and in this commonwealth.”
But who is Ghazala Hashmi? What’s her connection to India?
From Hyderabad to Georgia — Hashmi’s immigrant journey
Hashmi was born in Hyderabad on July 5, 1964 to Zia Hashmi and Tanveer Hashmi. Her father, father Professor Zia Hashmi, is the alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University from where he did MA and LLB. Her mother, Tanveer Hashmi, has completed her BA and Bed, studying from Osmania University’s Women’s College in Kothi.
At the age of four, Hashmi emigrated with her mother and elder brother from India to the United States, where they joined her father in Georgia just as he was completing his PhD in international relations and beginning his university teaching career.
Notably, she grew up in a small town in Georgia where for years hers was the only South Asian family in town. She grew up at a time when public schools were being desegregated, and saw firsthand how communities can be built and dialogue promoted through intentional efforts to bridge cultural, racial and socioeconomic divides, according to campaign materials.
As a student, Hashi excelled; she graduated as valedictorian from high school and received several full scholarships and fellowships. She earned a BA with honours from Georgia Southern University and PhD in American literature from Emory University in Atlanta.
Hashmi’s foray into politics
After tying the knot with Azhar Rafiq, the couple moved to the Richmond area where she spent nearly 30 years as a professor, first teaching at the University of Richmond and then at Reynolds Community College.
But in 2017, things changed for her drastically when then US President Donald Trump imposed a ban on travellers from some majority-Muslim countries . This move prompted her to join public service, namely politics. As a Washington Post report said that Hashmi believed that Trump’s actions made her doubt whether she still had a place in the country she had called home for nearly all her life.
She then contested the 2019 Virginia Senate election in which she defeated incumbent Republican Glen Sturtevant and flipped the chamber to Democratic control. At the time, her campaign slogan was — “Ghazala Hashmi is an American name,” seeking to appeal to immigrant voters and embrace the country’s changing demographics.
Five years later, in 2024, she was named Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, a crucial leadership post for two critical Democratic priorities, reproductive freedom and public education.
In May 2024, Hashmi announced that she would be running for Lt Governor, because she wanted to counterbalance the “chaos and dysfunctionality in Washington” that she anticipated would soon be spreading to her state.
Now, elected Lt Governor of Virginia, Hashmi’s top priorities include safeguarding reproductive rights and ensuring access to contraception. Another priority for Hashmi is gun violence protection. On her website, she states, “I am committed to doing everything I can to stop the proliferation of guns and reduce the violence and deaths. I strongly support universal background checks, safe storage laws, strengthened red flag laws, and a ban on assault weapons which are weapons of war.”
She has also vowed to fight bigotry in Virginia, be it gender, religious or sexual bias. In fact, during the race, her identity as a Muslim often came under attack. During the campaign, Governor Glenn Youngkin faced criticism after questioning Hashmi’s name. Hashmi responded publicly on social media: “I have lived in Virginia for over 30 years; my daughters were born and raised right here in Richmond. I am not surprised — but will not be deterred — by the bigotry from our Governor. Ghazala Hashmi is an American name. On Tuesday, we will show him what Virginia stands for.”
And it seems, Virginia gave its answer on Tuesday.
A big day for Indians and Muslims
Hashmi’s win as lieutenant governor in Virginia gives her two main duties: breaking ties while presiding over the state Senate, and becoming governor if that office is vacated.
More importantly, Hashmi’s triumph coincides with Zohran Mamdani’s win in the New York City mayoral race. He’s now the first Muslim and Indian-origin candidate to win the position in the Big Apple.
“It’s hugely significant. … It is, first of all, really affirming and rooting into our consciousness that these demographic shifts are very much a part of our country and they are here to stay,” Hashmi said in earlier interviews.
With inputs from agencies