First Indian-origin Lt gov of Virginia: Who is Ghazala Hashmi? Champion of reproductive rights

Democrat Ghazala Hashmi connected Tuesday won the lieutenant governor's contention successful United States' Virgina, defeating John Reid. Ghazala is the archetypal Indian American and First Muslim to triumph statewide bureau successful Virginia.Hashmi is simply a erstwhile assemblage prof who won the information aft prevailing successful a crowded June Democratic primary.As lieutenant governor, Hashmi volition preside implicit a closely-divided Virginia authorities Senate, wherever Democrats presently clasp a slim 21-19 spot advantage. The lieutenant politician votes erstwhile there’s a necktie successful the Senate. Hashmi’s triumph besides means her Senate spot volition person to beryllium filled successful a peculiar election.Meanwhile, erstwhile congresswoman Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican lieutenant politician Winsome Earle-Sears, who was outraised by the Democrat and failed to gain the endorsement of President Donald Trump.Virginia was 1 of 2 states, on with New Jersey, wherever voters were picking a politician connected Tuesday. Voters were besides selecting a caller politician successful New York City, and successful California, were deciding whether to o.k. a caller legislature representation that is designed to assistance Democrats triumph 5 much US House seats successful adjacent year’s midterm elections.

Who is Ghazala Hashmi?Hashmi is the archetypal Muslim pistillate and archetypal South Asian American elected to Virginia’s authorities Senate. She was calved successful Hyderabad and moved to the US astatine property 4, settling successful Georgia with her family.Hashmi holds a PhD successful American lit and spent astir of her nonrecreational beingness arsenic a professor. She taught astatine the University of Richmond and aboriginal astatine Reynolds Community College earlier entering politics.In 2019, she entered the Virginia Senate by defeating Republican Glen Sturtevant successful a intimately watched race. She was re-elected successful 2023. In the Senate, she championed reproductive rights. One of her cardinal bills aimed to support Virginians' entree to contraception. The measure passed some chambers but was vetoed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.