US: Virginia elects first Muslim woman to statewide office
Democrat Ghazala Hashmi makes history as Virginia’s first Muslim and Indian American to hold statewide office.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Virginia state senator Ghazala Hashmi has won the race for lieutenant governor, according to projections from the Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ.
Her victory is historic on multiple counts: she becomes the first Muslim and Indian American to hold statewide office in Virginia, and the first Muslim woman ever elected to a statewide office in the United States.
Hashmi, a Democrat from Chesterfield County, defeated Republican John Reid, a former radio talk show host who became Virginia’s first openly gay statewide nominee. The contest was closely watched as part of a broader Democratic sweep in the state.
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Executive Director Nihad Awad congratulated her in a post on social media, calling it “a proud moment for Virginia and for all who believe in an America that celebrates diversity, service, and justice for all.”
Ghazala Hashmi first entered public life in 2019, when she unseated a Republican incumbent in a suburban Richmond district to win a seat in the Virginia Senate. That victory helped Democrats regain control of the chamber for the first time in years.
In the Senate, Hashmi served on committees dealing with education, health, and social policy. Her colleagues later appointed her as chair of the powerful Senate Education and Health Committee, reflecting her deep experience in academia and her policy focus on equitable access to education.
During her campaign for lieutenant governor, Hashmi emphasized her commitment to expanding public education funding, protecting reproductive rights, and ensuring affordable health care. She also focused on bridging divisions in Virginia’s increasingly diverse electorate, presenting herself as an educator and consensus builder rather than a partisan figure.
Background and personal life
Born in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, Hashmi immigrated to the United States at age four with her mother and brother to join her father, who was completing his Ph.D. in international relations in Georgia.
She attended Georgia Southern University, where she earned her undergraduate degree with honors, and later received a Ph.D. in American literature from Emory University in Atlanta.
Hashmi has lived in the Richmond area since 1991 with her husband, Azhar Rafiq, an information technology professional. The couple has two adult daughters. Before entering politics, she built a nearly three-decade career as a professor of English and literature, first at the University of Richmond and later at Reynolds Community College.
At Reynolds, she founded the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, a program designed to support faculty innovation and student success.
Significance of her victory
Hashmi’s election is being celebrated as a milestone for representation and diversity in American politics. For Virginia, it underscores the state’s ongoing demographic and political transformation — from a reliably conservative bastion to a competitive, multicultural electorate.
Nationally, Hashmi’s victory places her among a growing number of Muslim and South Asian Americans breaking barriers in public office. Her ascent from academia to statewide leadership reflects the widening participation of immigrant and faith-minority communities in U.S. civic life.
She will assume office on January 17, 2026, presiding over the Virginia Senate and working closely with the newly elected governor.
In early remarks after her win, Hashmi thanked voters for their trust and pledged to “build a Virginia that works for everyone, where every child has the chance to learn, and every family can live with dignity and hope.”
SPONSORED
SPONSORED
SPONSORED
