First Indian-origin and first Muslim Lt governor of Virginia: Who is Ghazala Hashmi? Champion of reproductive rights

Democrat Ghazala Hashmi on Tuesday won the lieutenant governor's race in United States' Virgina, defeating John Reid. Ghazala is the first Indian American and First Muslim to win statewide office in Virginia.Hashmi is a former college professor who won the nomination after prevailing in a crowded June Democratic primary.As lieutenant governor, Hashmi will preside over a closely-divided Virginia state Senate, where Democrats currently hold a slim 21-19 seat advantage. The lieutenant governor votes when there’s a tie in the Senate. Hashmi’s victory also means her Senate seat will have to be filled in a special election.Meanwhile, former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican lieutenant governor Winsome Earle-Sears, who was outraised by the Democrat and failed to earn the endorsement of President Donald Trump.Virginia was one of two states, along with New Jersey, where voters were picking a governor on Tuesday. Voters were also selecting a new mayor in New York City, and in California, were deciding whether to approve a new congressional map that is designed to help Democrats win five more US House seats in next year’s midterm elections.

Who is Ghazala Hashmi?Hashmi is the first Muslim woman and first South Asian American elected to Virginia’s state Senate. She was born in Hyderabad and moved to the US at age 4, settling in Georgia with her family.Hashmi holds a PhD in American literature and spent most of her professional life as a professor. She taught at the University of Richmond and later at Reynolds Community College before entering politics.In 2019, she entered the Virginia Senate by defeating Republican Glen Sturtevant in a closely watched race. She was re-elected in 2023. In the Senate, she championed reproductive rights. One of her key bills aimed to protect Virginians' access to contraception. The bill passed both chambers but was vetoed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.