Ghazala Hashmi

Ghazala Firdous Hashmi (/ɡəˈzɑːlə ˈhɑːʃmi/ gə-ZAHL-ə HASH-mee; born July 5, 1964)[1] is an American politician and academic serving as the 4

Ghazala Hashmi
Ghazala Hashmi
غزالہ ہاشمی
Hashmi in 2025
43rd Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Assumed office
January 17, 2026
GovernorAbigail Spanberger
Preceded byWinsome Earle-Sears
Member of the Virginia Senate
In office
January 8, 2020 – January 17, 2026
Preceded byGlen Sturtevant
Succeeded byMichael Jones
Constituency10th district (2020–2024)
15th district (2024–2026)
Personal details
Born
Ghazala Firdous Hashmi

(1964-07-05) July 5, 1964 (age 62)
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana), India
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Azhar Rafiq
Children2
EducationGeorgia Southern University (BA)
Emory University (MA, PhD)
WebsiteOfficial website
Campaign website

Ghazala Firdous Hashmi (/ɡəˈzɑːlə ˈhɑːʃmi/ gə-ZAHL-ə HASH-mee; born July 5, 1964)[1] is an American politician and academic serving as the 43rd lieutenant governor of Virginia since 2026. She is the first South Asian American and Muslim woman elected to this office. Before becoming lieutenant governor, she was a Virginia state senator from 2020 to 2026.[2]

Hashmi was born in Hyderabad, India. She was raised in Georgia. Hashmi graduated from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor's degree in English.[3][4]

In November 2025, Hashmi was elected as Virginia's lieutenant governor, becoming the first Indian American and first Muslim to hold a statewide office in Virginia.[5] She is also the first Muslim woman to win a statewide office anywhere in the United States.[6]

Biography

Early life

Hashmi was born as Ghazala Firdous Hashmi on July 5, 1964, in Hyderabad, India to Hyderabadi Muslim parents. During her childhood, she lived with her maternal grandparents where her grandfather worked in the Andhra Pradesh government's finance department.[7]

In 1969, Hashmi emigrated with her mother and older brother from India to the United States when she was four years old as her father was completing his PhD in international relations and starting his university teaching career in Georgia. She grew up in the small town of Statesboro, Georgia during the time public schools were being desegregated.[8]

Education and career

Hashmi attended Georgia Southern University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, and also attended Emory University earning a PhD in American literature. She first taught at the University of Richmond as a professor and then at Reynolds Community College. At Reynolds, Hashmi served as the Founding Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL).[9]

Personal life

Hashmi is married to Azhar Rafiq where moved to Richmond in 1991. They also have two daughters together.

References

  1. ↑ Moreno, Sabrina (2025-11-05). "Ghazala Hashmi makes history as Virginia's next lieutenant governor". Axios. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  2. ↑ "Ghazala Hashmi is first Muslim to win statewide office in Virginia". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  3. ↑ PTI (2025-11-05). "Indian-origin Ghazala Hashmi wins Virginia Lieutenant Governor election". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  4. ↑ Robertson, Campbell (2025-11-05). "Democrats' Big Night in Virginia Makes History for Muslims". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  5. ↑ "Ghazala Hashmi wins Virginia lieutenant governor's race, becoming first Muslim woman elected statewide | CNN Politics". CNN. 2025-11-05. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  6. ↑ "Virginia's Ghazala Hashmi becomes the first Muslim woman elected statewide in the U.S." NBC News. 2025-11-05. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  7. ↑ "Ghazala Hashmi -". Archives of Women's Political Communication. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  8. ↑ Soisson, Isabel (2025-10-21). "Who is Ghazala Hashmi? Meet the Democrat running for VA lieutenant govenor". FOX 5 DC. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  9. ↑ Anthony, Keith (2025-11-07). "Ghazala Hashmi, 1992 English Ph.D. alum, elected Virginia's lieutenant governor". Department of English. Archived from the original on 2026-03-08. Retrieved 2026-03-19.

Other websites

Media related to Ghazala Hashmi at Wikimedia Commons


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