(Davon Marion / Fourth Estate)

Hashmi becomes first Muslim woman to represent a U.S. state at-large

BY NATHAN FERRARO, MANAGING EDITOR

Democrat Ghazala Hashmi has been announced Lieutenant Governor of Virginia by the Associated Press. Hashimi is currently over 100,000 votes ahead of Republican candidate John Reid, with over 68% of the votes currently counted. 

Hashmi will become the first Muslim woman to represent an entire U.S. state as well as the first Indian American woman to hold a state-wide office in Va.

Her opponent, John Reid, would have been the first openly gay Republican to have been elected to a state-wide office in the country.

Hashmi will replace current Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, who did not succeed in her campaign to become the next Va. governor. AP called the race between Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger earlier tonight. 

Voters at Merten Hall did not speak about their feelings toward Hashmi as much as they shared about new Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger.

A Mason student who met Hashmi yesterday described her approach to legislation as “incredible.”

Hashmi campaigned on priorities including reproductive freedom, gun violence protection, workers’ rights, education, environment, affordable housing and health care, according to her campaign website.