Who is Ghazala Hashmi? Indian-American Democrat running for Virginia lieutenant governor post

Senator Ghazala Hashmi.

Senator Ghazala Hashmi made history on Wednesday by winning the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Virginia, United States.

She has now become the first Muslim and the first Indian-American to even get nominated for a statewide office in Virginia.

Hashmi will now compete against Republican face John Reid in the November elections. Reid in the first openly gay man nominated by a major for statewide office in Virginia.

Virginia elections

Virginia's off-year elections typically draw national attention. This is because they are widely seen as a microcosm of how a wider area may vote, in this case the United States. In other words, whether a Republican or a Democrat is elected, it could indicate the general direction voters might go in next year's midterms, AP reported.

On November 4, voters across Virginia will cast their ballots for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. They'll also vote to elect all 100 representatives of the Virginia House of Delegates for the next two years. There are several local races, as well.

Who is Ghazala Hashmi?

It's not just Indian-origin Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, running in the New York City Mayoral polls, who is making all the waves. Another Democrat, Hyderabad-born Ghazala Hashmi, currently the Virginia State Senator and former college professor, is also making headlines as she vies for Virginia's lieutenant governor's post.

Hashmi defeated five Democratic candidates, including former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, clinching the nomination by a razor-thin margin of less than one percentage point.

The 61-year-old, who moved to the US with her mother and older brother at the age of four, has a long-standing presence in Virginia politics.

Hashmi made history in 2019 as the first Muslim and first South Asian American elected to the Virginia Senate, according to The American Bazaar. If Hashmi is elected the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, it will be historic.

Her campaign emphasises education, healthcare, and immigrant representation, resonating with both Indian and Pakistani-American communities. Community leaders credit her inclusive approach and deep connections with South Asian communities for building rare across-the-board support.

According to Ghazala Hashmi's campaign website, her other focus areas include public education, voting rights, gun violence prevention, climate change, housing and access to affordable health care.

Her campaign mirrors what Mamdani is promising in his campaign in New York City for the November election.