Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller Rallies Behind Ghazala Hashmi In Virginia Race
India-West Staff Reporter
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller crossed state lines to back Virginia’s Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, State Senator Ghazala Hashmi, underscoring the growing solidarity among South Asian women leaders in American politics.
Miller joined supporters at an event hosted by Dr. Sushil and Asha Jain in partnership with the AAPI Victory Fund, Vaibhav Jain, and a host committee of community leaders. The gathering celebrated Hashmi’s groundbreaking candidacy and record of public service while spotlighting the shared experiences that unite the two trailblazing women.
Both Miller and Hashmi were born in Hyderabadand immigrated to the US as young girls — Miller settling in New York and Hashmi in Georgia. Their journeys from immigrant families to public office have been marked by parallel paths of education and service: Miller, a civil engineer who went on to serve in Maryland’s legislature before becoming lieutenant governor, and Hashmi, a longtime educator and current Virginia state senator.
“Leaders like Ghazala remind us why representation matters,” Miller said, emphasizing that shared experiences of resilience and opportunity can strengthen democratic institutions and expand equity for all.
Miller made history in 2022 as the first South Asian woman elected lieutenant governor in the United States. Hashmi, if elected, would become the second South Asian woman — and the first Muslim-American woman — to hold statewide office in the nation.
The event also reflected the close connections between Maryland and Virginia, two neighboring states linked by shared challenges in education, workforce development, and civic engagement. Miller’s appearance highlighted Maryland’s commitment to regional collaboration and to advancing diverse leadership across borders.
Virginia voters will choose their next lieutenant governor on November 4 with early in-person voting already underway through November 1.
