Ghazala Hashmi Becomes First Muslim Woman Elected Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Virginia: Ghazala Hashmi, a Democratic leader, has made history by winning the election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, becoming the first Muslim woman to hold a statewide elected office in the state. She defeated Republican candidate John Read, who was Virginia’s first openly gay candidate for the position.
Of Indian descent, Hashmi will preside over the Virginia Senate and hold the tie-breaking vote in case of a 50-50 split. Her election gives Democrats a narrow majority in the Senate, with a 20-19 edge.
Hashmi, a Richmond senator, first won a state Senate seat in 2019, defeating a Republican opponent and helping the Democrats gain control in the chamber. She became the first Muslim and Indian-American woman elected to the Virginia Senate.
During her campaign, Hashmi strongly opposed former President Donald Trump’s policies, particularly the Muslim travel ban, and pledged to fight for immigrant rights.
Virginia state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi on Tuesday became the first Muslim-American woman elected to statewide office in the U.S. with her victory in the state's lieutenant governor's race, NBC News projects.https://t.co/F3ecWeetgs pic.twitter.com/VabysPbKYV
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 5, 2025
Virginia is one of 17 U.S. states where the Lieutenant Governor is elected independently, meaning the Governor and Lieutenant Governor can belong to different parties. This year marks the first time in 20 years that both offices are likely to be held by representatives of different parties.
Hashmi won the Democratic primary in June 2025, defeating five rivals with just 28% of the vote. She campaigned alongside other Democratic candidates, including gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger and attorney general candidate J. Jones. Although she condemned controversial messages by Jones, she did not call for his withdrawal, following the party’s stance.
Political analysts say Hashmi’s victory is a milestone for minority representation in U.S. politics and a historic moment for Muslim women, highlighting their growing influence in national political life.
