Who Is Ghazala Hashmi? First India-Born Woman To Hold Statewide Office In Virginia

Ghazala Hashmi has become one of the most influential voices in Virginia politics, known for her calm leadership, dignity, and clear focus on public service. In 2025, she made history once again by becoming the first Indian-origin and first Muslim woman to hold statewide office in Virginia, winning the race for Lieutenant Governor.

Her journey, shaped by a lifelong commitment to education and community, reflects how personal values can guide someone into leadership and public life.

Early Life and Background

Ghazala Hashmi was born on July 5, 1964, in Hyderabad, India. Her family moved to the United States when she was about 4 years old, settling in Georgia, where her father and uncle worked in academia. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in English from Georgia Southern University, and later a PhD in English from Emory University. 

In 1991, she and her husband moved to the Richmond, Virginia area. She spent nearly 30 years working in Virginia’s community college system as a professor and academic administrator, teaching English literature, supporting faculty development, and later serving as the founding director of a Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

Entry into Politics

Hashmi began her political career in 2019, when she ran for the Virginia State Senate and won, defeating a Republican and turning the seat Democratic. Her victory was historic, as she became the first Muslim and the first South Asian American to serve in the Virginia State Senate.

She decided to enter politics because she was worried that national policies were putting inclusion and equality at risk. Her background as an educator and an immigrant inspired her to step forward and bring those values into public service.

Political Priorities and Style

As a lawmaker, Hashmi has focused on issues like education, healthcare, housing, voting rights, and reproductive freedom. She often says that her years of experience in education and public service help her understand how systems work, and she uses that experience to better serve people.

On education, she has consistently pushed for fully funded public schools and easier access to higher education for all students. On reproductive rights, she has supported and co-sponsored legislation to protect access to contraception and essential healthcare, even in the face of political opposition.

Historic Campaign and Milestones

In 2025, she ran for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and won a six-way primary. If she wins the general election, she will become the first Muslim woman and the first Indian American (and South Asian American) to hold a statewide office in Virginia. 

Her campaign has strongly focused on representation and inclusion. In her earlier Senate run, she used the slogan “Ghazala Hashmi is an American name,” reflecting pride in both her immigrant roots and her American identity.

Why This Matters

Hashmi’s story matters on several levels. She combines a strong academic and professional background with public service. She brings the perspective of immigration, diversity, and education into state politics. And her run for statewide office shows a changing political landscape, where voices that were once underrepresented are less so now.

She also shows how someone with deep community ties, education, local residence, teaching career can translate that into politics. Her approach suggests that she wants to bring practical experience, not only identity, to her role.

Views expressed by the author are their own.