Ghazala Hashmi Explained

Ghazala Hashmi
Office:Member of the Virginia Senate
Term Start:January 8, 2020
Predecessor:Glen Sturtevant
Constituency:10th district (2020–2024)
15th district (2024–present)
Birth Name:Ghazala Firdous Hashmi
Birth Date:5 July 1964
Birth Place:Hyderabad, India
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Azhar Rafiq [1]
Children:2
Education:Georgia Southern University (BA)
Emory University (MA, PhD)

Ghazala Firdous Hashmi (born July 5, 1964) is an Indian-born American politician and former academic administrator and educator. A Democrat, Hashmi represents the 15th district in the Senate of Virginia. She worked as an educator and academic administrator for 25 years before running for office.

Early life and education

Hashmi was born in Hyderabad, India, in 1964 to Tanveer and Zia Hashmi. 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.[2] [3]

Hashmi completed a B.A. in English at Georgia Southern University. She earned a Ph.D. in English from Emory University.[4] Her 1992 dissertation was titled William Carlos Williams and the American ground of "In the American Grain" and "Paterson."[5]

Career

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. At J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, she served as the founding director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

In the 2019 Virginia Senate election, Hashmi won Virginia's 10th Senate district, defeating incumbent Republican Glen Sturtevant. She is the first woman to represent the district and the first Muslim elected to the Senate of Virginia.[6] She was officially sworn into office on January 8, 2020.[7] [8] [9] In November 2023, she was re-elected to the Senate of Virginia in Senate District 15.

In May 2024, Hashmi announced her run for the 2025 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, if elected she would be the first Muslim and South Asian holding a statewide office in Virginia.[10]

Personal life

Hashmi moved to Richmond in 1991 with her husband. They have two daughters. Hashmi resides in Richmond, Virginia.

Electoral history

2019 election

Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Virginia Senate, 10th district
November 5, 2019[11] GeneralGlen H. Sturtevant Jr.Republican36,81145.60
Ghazala HashmiDemocratic43,80654.30
Write Ins490.01
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2023 election

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Senate of Virginia .
  2. Web site: Senator Ghazala Hashmi is 'deeply attached' to Hyderabad. Hashmi. Rasia. 2019-11-07. The Siasat Daily. en-GB. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191108142128/https://www.siasat.com/senator-ghazala-hashmi-deeply-attached-hyderabad-1720912/. 8 November 2019. 2019-11-07.
  3. Web site: Ghazala Hashmi becomes first Muslim woman elected to Virginia's state senate. Budryk. Zack. The Hill. November 5, 2019. en. November 6, 2019.
  4. Web site: Indian American Ghazala Hashmi wins Democratic nomination from Virginia's 10th Senate District. June 13, 2019. The American Bazaar. en-US. November 6, 2019.
  5. William Carlos Williams and the American ground of In the American grain and Paterson.. 1992. English. Ghazala Firdous. Hashmi. 29824251.
  6. Web site: Democrat Ghazala Hashmi wins 10th Senate District race. Mirshahi. Dean. 8News. November 6, 2019. en-US. November 6, 2019.
  7. News: Newly empowered Virginia Democrats promise action . Alan . Suderman . Sarah . Rankin . Associated Press . January 8, 2020 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200109145850/http://www.startribune.com/newly-empowered-virginia-democrats-promise-action/566803882/ . 9 January 2020.
  8. Web site: Newly-Empowered Virginia Democrats Promise Action | Voice of America – English. www.voanews.com. January 8, 2020 .
  9. News: Asombra diversidad étnica de nueva Legislatura de Virginia . January 8, 2020 . . es . Ethnic diversity in new Virginia Legislature amazes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200108230543/https://www.chron.com/espanol/news/article/Asombra-diversidad-etnica-de-nueva-Legislatura-14959623.php . January 8, 2020.
  10. Web site: 2024-05-02 . VA Sen. Ghazala Hashmi Launches Her Campaign for the 2025 Democratic Nomination for Lt. Governor; Exclusive Blue Virginia Interview . 2024-06-12 . Blue Virginia . en-US.
  11. Web site: Virginia State Senate District 10. Ballotpedia. November 11, 2019.