Hyderabad-born Ghazala Hashmi, a Virginia State Senator and former college professor, is generating headlines in the US as she campaigns for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. The Indian-American candidate is currently leading her Republican opponent, John Reid, by 7 points, up from a 4-point lead in September, according to the latest Washington Post-Schar School poll conducted October 16–20.
Hashmi, who moved to the US at the age of four, has a long history in Virginia politics. She made history in 2019 as the first Muslim and first South Asian American elected to the Virginia State Senate. If elected Lieutenant Governor, she would achieve another historic milestone.
Her campaign emphasizes education, healthcare, immigrant representation, voting rights, gun violence prevention, climate change, housing, and affordable health care. Hashmi’s inclusive approach has garnered support from Indian, Pakistani, and other immigrant communities, who resonate with her personal story of migration and dedication to community building.
Her Republican opponent, John Reid, recently staged a 40-minute AI-generated debate simulating Hashmi’s responses, which Democrats dismissed as a “shoddy gimmick” and a “desperate move.”
Hashmi’s campaign spotlights her nearly three decades of teaching experience, advocating for workforce development, apprenticeships, and equitable access to education. She is widely seen as a beacon of inclusion in Virginia amid rising anti-immigrant rhetoric.
The election for Virginia’s next Lieutenant Governor will be held on November 4, 2025, with South Asian and immigrant communities watching closely to see if Hashmi secures a historic victory.
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