Ghazala Hashmi Steps Into History And Office

India-West News Desk

RICHMOND, VA – Ghazala Hashmi was sworn in on January 17 as Virginia’s 43rd lieutenant governor, making history as the first Muslim woman and first South Asian American elected to statewide office in the Commonwealth. The ceremony marked a transition she described as “a new chapter that is guided by our values and a commitment to delivering results for Virginians.”

Hashmi took the oath of office administered by Chief Justice Cleo Powell, herself a historic figure as the first Black woman to lead Virginia’s Supreme Court. Standing together, Hashmi said the moment reflected “the promise of a Commonwealth that honors both its history and its future.”

She chose to take the oath on two texts, her family’s Qur’an and a 1799 printed version of the United States Constitution on loan from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. The pairing, she said, represented “our founding legal principles and our enduring commitment to religious freedom and pluralism.”

Addressing the transition from the Senate to statewide office, Hashmi said, “Standing on the Senate floor one last time before taking the oath as your next lieutenant governor, I’m filled with gratitude for the trust you have placed in me.” She added, “Tomorrow we begin a new chapter that is guided by our values and a commitment to delivering results for Virginians.”

Born in Hyderabad, Hashmi said her journey was shaped by her Indian parents. She has often noted that “as the daughter of immigrants, I was taught that education and civic responsibility are the foundations of opportunity.” Her academic path included an undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University, a master’s degree from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in American Studies from Emory University.

Before entering electoral politics, Hashmi spent decades teaching in Virginia’s community college system. She has said that experience grounded her public service, noting that “working alongside students and faculty showed me how closely education, workforce development, and economic opportunity are connected.”

After winning election to the Virginia Senate, Hashmi built a legislative record focused on education, healthcare, and civil rights. Reflecting on that work as she assumed her new role, she said her career has been about ensuring “that government reflects and responds to the people it serves.”

Looking ahead, Hashmi said she plans to work closely with Governor Abigail Spanberger and the General Assembly. “I was incredibly honored to take my oath of office as the 43rd lieutenant governor of Virginia,” she said. “I look forward to working alongside our governor and administration to build a Commonwealth focused on affordability, opportunity, dignity, and justice.”