Virginia makes history with first Muslim woman elected to statewide office

Virginia Makes History with First Muslim Woman Elected to Statewide Office

State Senator Ghazala Hashmi is set to make history as the first Muslim woman elected to statewide office in the United States, according to Decision Desk HQ. Hashmi ran for Virginia's lieutenant governor in a competitive race against Republican John Reid, a former conservative talk radio host.

Reid could have made history as well, as the first openly gay Republican elected to statewide office in the country.

Historic Elections in Virginia

On the same election night, Virginia also elected its first woman governor in a contest between former Democratic Representative Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lieutenant Governor, with Spanberger projected to win.

Campaign Focuses

Ghazala Hashmi emphasized opposing the bigotry and "chaos" associated with President Donald Trump’s second term, alongside advocating for increased funding in public education.
John Reid centered his campaign on lowering taxes and regulations for businesses and preventing transgender girls from participating in girls' sports.

"Trump’s travel ban inspired state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi to first run for office. Years later, she said fighting bigotry and the “chaos” of Trump’s second term is top of mind."

Both candidates mostly avoided discussing the historic nature of their campaigns, choosing instead to highlight the key issues motivating their parties.

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Summary

Ghazala Hashmi’s election marks a milestone for representation while candidates prioritized core policy issues over historic firsts in the Virginia statewide race.

The 19th News — 2025-11-04