RICHMOND, Va. (Diya TV) — The Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association (DLGA) announced it will invest $1 million to support Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi in her run for lieutenant governor. The amount marks the largest ever contribution to a lieutenant governor’s race in Virginia and doubles the Republican Governors Association’s investment in the state.
The historic investment comes just a week after Hashmi won the Democratic nomination in a closely contested primary. She now faces Republican candidate John Reid in the general election this November.
DLGA Chair and Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Austin Davis said the organization backs Hashmi because of her legislative record and leadership.
“The DLGA is proud to make this historic $1 million investment in support of Ghazala Hashmi’s campaign for lieutenant governor—the largest ever made to a lieutenant governor candidate in Virginia,” Davis said in a press release.
He highlighted Hashmi’s efforts to protect Medicaid, defend reproductive healthcare access, and improve Virginia’s public schools. Davis said the election is critical, pointing to rising living costs, instability tied to the Trump administration, and federal job cuts in Virginia.
Hashmi made history in 2019 when she became the first Muslim and first Indian American elected to the Virginia Senate. If elected lieutenant governor, she will become the first Muslim American woman ever elected to statewide office in the United States.
Born in India, Hashmi immigrated to the U.S. at age four. She joined her father, who was earning a Ph.D. in international relations, in Georgia. Her family settled in a small college town as public schools were being desegregated.
Hashmi graduated as valedictorian of her high school class. She earned a bachelor’s degree with honors from Georgia Southern University and went on to complete a Ph.D. in American literature at Emory University in Atlanta. Before entering politics, she served as a community college professor and administrator.
The DLGA’s support signals that the Virginia lieutenant governor’s race could play a key role in shaping the state’s political future. Hashmi’s opponent, Republican John Reid, will likely receive support from national GOP organizations, but the DLGA’s $1 million investment outpaces current Republican spending in the state.
Virginia’s lieutenant governor holds important responsibilities, including presiding over the state Senate and casting tie-breaking votes on key legislation. The role is often seen as a stepping stone to a higher office.
