Ghazala Hashmi Makes History as Virginia’s New Lieutenant Governor

Indian-American Democrat Ghazala Hashmi has made history by winning the Virginia lieutenant governor’s race, defeating Republican candidate John Reid. With this victory, Hashmi becomes the first Muslim and first South Asian American to hold this position in Virginia’s history.

Hashmi’s political journey began in 2019, when she achieved a major upset by flipping a Republican-held Senate seat and earning a place in the Virginia General Assembly. Over the years, she has emerged as a strong advocate for education, health care, and social equality. In 2024, she was appointed as the Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, where she played a key role in advancing Democratic priorities such as reproductive rights and public education reform.

Following her latest victory, her Senate seat in the 15th District will be filled through a special election.

Early Life and Education

Born in Hyderabad, India, in 1964, Ghazala Hashmi is the daughter of Professor Zia Hashmi and Tanveer Hashmi. Her father, an alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University, later earned a PhD in International Relations from the University of South Carolina and became the Director of the Centre for International Studies. Her mother, a graduate of Osmania University’s Women’s College, pursued her career in education.

At the age of four, Ghazala moved to the United States with her mother and brother to join her father in Georgia. A bright student, she graduated as the valedictorian of her high school class and received several scholarships and fellowships. She earned a Bachelor of Arts with honors from Georgia Southern University and later completed her PhD in American Literature from Emory University in Atlanta.

Academic and Family Life

In 1991, Ghazala and her husband, Azhar Rafiq, moved to the Richmond area of Virginia, where they raised their two daughters, Yasmin and Noor—both graduates of Chesterfield County Public Schools and the University of Virginia.

Hashmi spent nearly three decades in academia, teaching at the University of Richmond and Reynolds Community College. At Reynolds, she also served as the Founding Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), promoting innovative teaching practices and faculty development.

Leadership and Vision

Throughout her career, Ghazala Hashmi has dedicated her efforts to improving lives through education, healthcare access, and environmental justice. Her focus on equity and inclusion has earned her wide recognition and made her one of Virginia’s most respected progressive leaders.

Her election as lieutenant governor marks a significant milestone for diversity and representation in U.S. politics. Hashmi’s journey—from her early days in Hyderabad to the corridors of American political power—symbolizes the growing influence of the Indian-American community in shaping state and national leadership.