Statesboro's Ghazala Hashmi makes history as Virginia's Lieutenant Governor

[LordJames]

Ghazala is one of the smartest politicians in America!

Ghazala earned a BA with honors from Georgia Southern University and her PhD in American literature from Emory University in Atlanta.

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Statesboro's Ghazala Hashmi makes history as Virginia's Lieutenant Governor

A daughter of Statesboro has reached a historic political milestone tonight, as Democrat Ghazala Hashmi defeated Republican John Reid to become Virginia's next Lieutenant Governor. Hashmi, who spent her formative years and attended college here in Statesboro, will make history as the first Muslim and first Asian American elected to statewide office in Virginia, and the first Muslim woman to win a statewide office anywhere in the United States.

The victory concludes a highly-watched campaign for the former college professor and current State Senator, who will now serve as president of the closely-divided Virginia State Senate, holding the critical tie-breaking vote.

Southern Roots, National Impact

Hashmi's journey began far from the halls of the Virginia legislature. Born in Hyderabad, India, in 1964, her family immigrated to the United States when she was four years old, settling in Statesboro. It was here, as her father and uncle worked in Georgia Southern University’s political science department, that the future Lieutenant Governor grew up, attending the Marvin Pittman Laboratory School and later graduating as valedictorian of Statesboro High School.

Her strong educational foundation in the community continued at Georgia Southern University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with honors and was part of the inaugural class of the University's Bell Honors Program. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in English from Emory University in Atlanta.

"Growing up in that small college town, at a time when public schools were being desegregated, [Ghazala] saw firsthand how communities can be built and dialogue promoted through intentional efforts to bridge cultural, racial, and socioeconomic divides," according to her campaign.

A History of Upset Victories

Hashmi and her husband, Azhar, moved to the Richmond area in 1991, where she dedicated nearly 30 years to a career as a professor and academic administrator. She first stunned the political establishment in 2019, when she unseated a Republican incumbent to flip a State Senate seat, an upset victory that delivered the majority to Democrats for the first time in years.

In her time as a State Senator, Hashmi has championed issues central to her campaign: public education and affordable healthcare access, reproductive freedom, voting rights and democracy, and gun violence prevention.

Her victory tonight means a special election will be called to fill her vacant State Senate seat, but it solidifies her role as a powerful voice for her legislative priorities across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Hashmi defeated talk-radio host John Reid in the general election, prevailing after a crowded and competitive Democratic primary earlier this year.

Statesboro proudly watches as one of its own takes a groundbreaking step into statewide executive leadership.

Statesboro's Ghazala Hashmi makes history as Virginia's Lieutenant Governor

In a landmark victory, Statesboro's Ghazala Hashmi has been elected as Virginia's next Lieutenant Governor, making history as the first Muslim and Asian American to hold statewide office in the Commonwealth.

www.griceconnect.com

 

[LordJames]

Hashmi was born in Hyderabad, India, in 1964 to Tanveer and Zia Hashmi into a Hyderabadi family. She lived at her maternal grandparents' home in Malakpet during her childhood. Her maternal grandfather served in the finance department of the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Her family moved to the United States in 1969 when she was four years old and she grew up in Statesboro, Georgia. Her father and uncle worked in Georgia Southern University’s political science department, and she attended the Marvin Pittman Laboratory School at the university.

Hashmi completed a Bachelor of Arts in English at Georgia Southern University and earned a Ph.D. in English from Emory University. Her 1992 dissertation was titled William Carlos Williams and the American Ground of "In the American Grain" and "Paterson". Peter Dowell was her doctoral advisor.

Hashmi was an educator and academic administrator for 25 years. She was a visiting assistant professor at the University of Richmond and a professor at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, where she served as the founding director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
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1. First Muslim to be elected as Lt Gov​
2. First South-Asian to be elected​
3. First Immigrant to be elected
4. First person from Richmond​