Meet Ghazala Hashmi, first India-American Muslim to be elected as Virginia Lieutenant Governor
Amid the celebration of Zohran Mamdani's New York City Mayoral election, Indian-origin Democrat Ghazala Hashmi has won Virginia Lieutenant Governor's race, going past Republican candidate John Reid, media reports said.
Hashmi scripted history by becoming the first Indian American and the first Muslim to hold that statewide office in Virginia.
Born in the Hyderabad city of India in 1964, Ghazala emigrated with her family to the United States, moving from India to Georgia at the age of four.
Her father, Zia Hashmi, was a political science professor; her family moved into an academic-town environment.
She and her husband Azhar Rafiq moved to the Richmond, Virginia area in 1991 and raised two daughters.
In 2019, Hashmi was elected to the Virginia State Senate, defeating a Republican incumbent.
With that win, she became the first Muslim and first South Asian American to serve in the Virginia Senate.
Her legislative priorities include public education, voting rights, reproductive freedoms, gun-violence prevention, environmental justice, affordable housing and health care access.
IBNS
Senior Staff Reporter at Northeast Herald, covering news from Tripura and Northeast India.
Related Articles
'If a war breaks out...': Taliban warns Pakistan after Istanbul peace talks end in deadlock
Kabul/IBNS: The Taliban government in Afghanistan has issued a strong warning to Pakistan, cautioning Islamabad against “testing the patience” of Kabul after the latest round of peace talks in Istanbul failed to produce a breakthrough on the issue of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants.
Mamdani’s New York victory sparks concern in Israel over shifting US sentiments
Jerusalem/IBNS: The election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s next mayor has sparked unease across Israel, as political leaders and citizens grapple with the implications of a U.S. political shift that may signal waning support for Israel among American voters.
How a 1:30 pm call from 'top official in India' saved Hasina's life, reveals new book
New Delhi/IBNS: A forthcoming book has unveiled a gripping new account of how a single phone call from India altered the course of Bangladesh’s modern political history — and ultimately saved Sheikh Hasina’s life.
Global wake-up call in Brazil: Guterres pushes for immediate clean energy transformation
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is continuing his campaign to accelerate the global switch from fossil fuels to clean energy – “the cheapest source of new electricity in nearly every country.”
Latest News
'If a war breaks out...': Taliban warns Pakistan after Istanbul peace talks end in deadlock
Unity Promo Fest 2025 spreads message of peace, harmony, and unity: CM
Dispute over family issues: Police constable attempts self-immolation
Infant, maternal mortality rates decline significantly in Tripura: CM
