Ghazala Hashmi Makes History as First Muslim and South Asian American Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

Ghazala Hashmi has secured a historic victory as Virginia's Lieutenant Governor, becoming the first Muslim and South Asian American to attain this position. The Democrat successfully defeated her Republican opponent John Reid in the electoral race.

Prior to this achievement, Hashmi had already made history as the first Muslim and South Asian American serving in the Virginia Senate, representing the 15th Senatorial District. Her recent triumph will necessitate a special election to fill her vacated Senate seat.

Hashmi's political journey began in 2019 when she achieved a remarkable upset by flipping a Republican-held state Senate seat to win election to the Virginia General Assembly. By 2024, she had risen to become Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, a pivotal leadership role overseeing key Democratic priorities including reproductive freedom and public education.

According to her official website, Hashmi has consistently dedicated herself to "improving the lives of others," with particular focus on addressing inequities in housing, education, healthcare, and environmental justice among other critical social issues.

Born in Hyderabad in 1964 to parents Zia and Tanveer Hashmi, Ghazala spent her early childhood at her maternal grandparents' residence in Malakpet. At age four, she emigrated to the United States with her mother and older brother, reuniting with her father in Georgia.

Her father, Professor Zia Hashmi, is an alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University where he earned his MA and LLB degrees. He later completed his PhD in International Relations from the University of South Carolina and established a distinguished academic career, eventually retiring as Director of the Centre for International Studies which he founded.

Hashmi's mother, Tanveer Hashmi, holds BA and B.Ed. qualifications from Osmania University's Women's College in Kothi.

Excelling academically from an early age, Hashmi graduated as valedictorian of her high school class and received numerous full scholarships and fellowships. She earned a BA with honors from Georgia Southern University followed by a PhD in American literature from Atlanta's Emory University.

In 1991, Hashmi relocated to the Richmond area with her husband, Azhar Rafiq. The couple raised two daughters, Yasmin and Noor, both of whom graduated from Chesterfield County Public Schools and later the University of Virginia.

Before entering politics, Hashmi dedicated nearly three decades to academia, initially teaching at the University of Richmond before joining Reynolds Community College. At the latter institution, she also served as the Founding Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), further demonstrating her commitment to education and community development.