India-born Ghazala Hashmi has made history by becoming Virginia’s newly elected Lieutenant Governor, the first Muslim and South Asian American to hold a statewide office in the state. Born in Hyderabad, India, she moved to the U.S. at age four and won the 2025 election held on November 4, defeating Republican John Reid with 54.2% votes.
A Democrat, Hashmi began her political career in 2019 when she flipped a Republican-held Senate seat and later chaired the Senate Education and Health Committee. Her campaign focused on education reform, reproductive rights, and gun control.
As Lieutenant Governor, she will preside over the Virginia State Senate (Democrats 21–19 majority) and influence key legislative priorities. Her victory represents a powerful symbol of diversity and immigrant representation in U.S. politics, strengthening ties between Indian-American and mainstream American communities.
