Who Is Ghazala Hashmi? First Indian-Origin Muslim Woman Elected Lieutenant Governor In US

Last Updated:November 05, 2025, 08:47 IST

Ghazala Hashmi was also the first Muslim woman elected to the Virginia Senate.

Ghazala Hashmi Becomes First Indian-Origin Muslim Woman Lieutenant Governor in US. (Photo: X)

Democrat Ghazala Hashmi has made history by becoming the first Indian-origin Muslim woman to be elected Lieutenant Governor of the United States, after winning the Virginia lieutenant governor’s race on Wednesday. 

Reflecting on her journey, Hashmi said she ran ‘as an American’ and ‘wanted people to accept her…for what she is’.

Hashmi, who previously became the first Muslim woman elected to the Virginia Senate, secured a comfortable victory over her Republican rival John Reid, a radio show host. 

What’s her ideology? 

According to her official website, she has made it her mission to promote inclusivity, protect democracy, and ensure equity in governance. Among her most vocal positions is her call for tighter gun control in a country deeply divided on the issue. She has consistently spoken out against gun violence and pushed for measures such as a ban on assault weapons, universal background checks, and safe storage laws.

As Virginia’s newly elected Lieutenant Governor, Ghazala Hashmi’s top priorities include safeguarding reproductive rights and ensuring access to contraception. She has cited President Donald Trump’s 2017 travel ban targeting citizens from several Muslim-majority nations as a defining moment that inspired her to enter politics – to defend inclusion, democracy, and justice in America.

Her legislative agenda also spans several other vital areas including public education, voting rights, reproductive freedom, affordable healthcare, environmental protection, and housing access. Her vision is rooted in community-driven policymaking that strengthens social justice and equal opportunity.

Ghazala Hashmi’s Indian connection

Born on 5 July 1964 in Hyderabad, India, Ghazala Hashmi’s journey to public service is a story of perseverance and purpose. She moved to the United States at the age of four with her mother and brother, joining her father who was completing his PhD in international relations in Georgia. 

Growing up in the American South, she navigated both cultural transitions and academic excellence, earning a BA with honours from Georgia Southern University and later a PhD in American literature from Emory University in Atlanta.

Her Indian roots remain close to her heart. Her maternal grandfather once worked for the Government of Andhra Pradesh, and she maintains connections with her family in Hyderabad, often speaking of her fondness for her birthplace.

Hashmi has been married to Azhar Rafiq for over three decades, and the couple have two daughters, Yasmin and Noor. Family values, she often says, ground her approach to politics and service.

Her win marks a significant milestone for representation and diversity in American politics, reflecting Virginia’s evolving political landscape and the growing influence of South Asian Americans in key leadership roles across the United States.

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