Ghazala Hashmi Poised to Make History as Virginia's First Muslim Lieutenant Governor

State Senator Ghazala Hashmi, a 61-year-old educator and immigrant from Hyderabad, India, stands on the verge of becoming Virginia’s first Muslim and first Asian-American to hold statewide office as polls show her leading Republican John Reid in the November 4 lieutenant governor election, according to recent surveys from multiple polling organizations.

Hashmi’s historic candidacy provides more value than her individual accomplishments because it marks a pivotal moment in American political history, enabling Muslim and South Asian candidates to overcome decades of leadership obstacles.

Leading in the Final Days

The polls show Hashmi leading before voters cast their ballots on election day. The Wason Center at Christopher Newport University surveyed Virginia voters from September 29 to October 1, which found that Hashmi leads Reid by 9 points. The Kaplan Strategies poll supported previous results, showing that Hashmi leads Reid by 7 points, with 48% supporting Reid and 41% supporting Hashmi.

The election contest between the candidates became more evenly matched during the final days of October. The Suffolk University poll from October 23 showed a 45-45 tie between the candidates, with a statistical tie due to survey errors.

“Virginia workers know nobody is working harder for them. As lieutenant governor, I will continue my fight to increase wages, protect affordable health care, and create opportunities for all families to thrive.” — Ghazala Hashmi, October 6 campaign post

A Trailblazing Political Journey

Hashmi achieved historical status in 2019 when she became the first Muslim woman and first South Asian American to serve in Virginia’s state Senate, representing the 15th Senate District, which includes most of Chesterfield County (The Times of India). She defeated Republican incumbent Glen Sturtevant in a highly contested election and retained her seat in the 2023 election.​

Hashmi started her political journey outside of Virginia’s state capital. Hashmi moved to the United States with her mother and brother when she was four years old, after being born in India, according to Moneycontrol. She earned her PhD in American literature while working for many years as a professor at the University of Richmond and Reynolds Community College, until she decided to run for office.

Rare Coalition Building

The political campaign of Hashmi has achieved a historic level of support from the South Asian community, according to political analysts. The Dawn newspaper reported that South Asian voters in Virginia support Ghazala Hashmi for lieutenant governor with unanimous agreement, despite their diverse cultural backgrounds.​

Moneycontrol reports that community leaders attribute her success to her ability to connect with both Indian and Pakistani-American communities through an inclusive campaign strategy. Her campaign platform focuses on education, healthcare, and immigrant advocacy, attracting support from diverse demographic groups.

Hard-Fought Primary Victory

Hashmi needed to overcome significant challenges before she could run in the general election. The Times of India reported that Hashmi won the June 17 primary against five Democratic candidates, including former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, by a narrow margin of less than one percentage point.​

Hashmi received 28% of primary votes to become the Democratic nominee while Spanberger and Jones joined him to form the party’s statewide ticket, according to VPM News.

Legislative Priorities and Experience

Hashmi supports progressive legislation in the Virginia Senate through her dedication to reproductive rights. The Times of India reports that Hashmi endorsed a bill that protected Virginians’ right to access contraception until Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin used his veto power to block it. Hashmi confirmed to VPM News in September that she feels prepared to serve at the state level. She discussed her readiness for statewide office while explaining her plans to handle federal Medicaid budget reductions, Virginia’s right-to-work policy, and the need for a powerful state government.​

Her campaign website outlines her main policy goals, which focus on public education, voting rights, gun control, climate action, housing affordability, and healthcare accessibility.

A Historic Matchup

Hashmi runs against Republican John Reid, who served as a talk radio host and became the first major party candidate to run for statewide office in Virginia as an openly gay man, according to The Times of India. The election takes place during Winsome Earle-Sears’s gubernatorial campaign because she has vacated the lieutenant governor position.​

The Virginia lieutenant governor serves two primary duties: leading Senate sessions and breaking ties in the Senate, but the position is also a vital stepping stone to the governorship. The position of lieutenant governor in Virginia leads to the governorship, according to VPM News, because Ralph Northam, Tim Kaine, Doug Wilder, and Chuck Robb all used this role to become Virginia governors.

Mirroring National Trends

Political analysts have identified shared elements between Hashmi’s political campaign and Zohran Mamdani’s Democratic socialist campaign for New York City mayor, representing a significant achievement for Muslim American political representation. The two campaigns support progressive values and local activism and offer genuine representation to various community groups, according to Moneycontrol’s political framework.

The election of Hashmi would create a historic achievement because she would become Virginia’s first.

Multiple observers agree that the November 4 election in Virginia will create permanent changes to the state's first Muslim and Asian-American statewide official since the state’s founding in 1776.