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www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 10 COVER STORY January 23, 2026 History Made When First Indian American Takes Oath Of Office As Lt. Governor Of Virginia O n Saturday, January 17, 2026, former Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi was sworn in as the Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth, a his- tory making moment. She becomes the first In- dian American to win a statewide office in that state, and also the first Muslim woman to win statewide office anywhere in the history of the United States. In fact, some observers call the November elec- tions a “new chapter” in the Commonwealth’s history when a trifecta of Democrats took over the reins after a long hiatus. Hashmi’s election coincided with another history-making event – the election of the first woman governor of the state – Abigail Spanberger, as well as the first Black Attorney General Jay Jones. Interestingly, while in Virginia, the Lieutenant Gover- nor is elected at the same time as the Governor, the two are elected separately, i.e., they do not run as a ticket. Therefore, it is possible to have a Governor and Lieu- tenant Governor belonging to different political parties. Hashmi ran and won on her progressive platform that focused on diversity and inclusiveness, and de- feated her Republican opponent John Reid, despite him being an openly gay Republican talk show host. Furthermore, while the Governor is limited by the Constitution of Virginia to serving only one four-year term, there is no limit on the number of terms that can be served by the Lieutenant Governor. Gov. Spanberger replaces former Gov. Glen Youngkin who was term limited. “Today, I was incredibly honored to take my Oath of Office as the 43rd Lieu- tenant Governor of Virginia. I look for- ward to working alongside our Governor and administration to build a Common- wealth focused on affordability, opportu- nity, dignity, and justice,” Hashmi posted on Facebook after her swearing in where her husband and daughters watched as she placed her left hand on a Quran. Following her victory in the November 4, 2025 elections Hashmi, in an interview on PBS (PBS.org ) on November 5, at- tributed her victory to policies inWash- ington. Virginia, which is adjacent to the national capital, is suffering the from the consequences of cuts in the federal work force, the federal shutdown, healthcare access, cuts to the SNAP benefits and ris- ing costs, she said. Asked how it made her feel to be the first Muslim woman elected statewide and in the country, Hashmi said, “Well, it feels tremendous, most especially be- cause of the reactions and the responses that I’m hearing, not just fromVirginians, but all across the country, especially from young women, women who come from diverse backgrounds and other faith traditions.” She went on to say, “They see an opportunity, they value the representa- tion, and they know how critical it is that diverse voices be at every level of govern- ment and also in those spaces where historically our perspectives and our representation has not been.” “And they understand that value. And I’m very delighted to be the first. But I certainly know that I will not be the last.” According to Hashmi, the work that is being done in Virginia is “representative of the growing diversity of all of our communities and the need to ensure that mul- tiple perspectives and backgrounds, ethnicities are truly present when decisions are being made.” Ghazala F. Hashmi is the 43rd Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth and her election according to the Lt. Gov website reflects Virginia’s “continued progress toward a more representative and inclusive democracy.” Prior to taking office as Lieutenant Governor, Hashmi served in the Virginia State Senate representing the 15th District for two terms. First elected in 2019, “she built a reputation as a thoughtful, effective legislator focused on strengthen- ing public education, expanding access to affordable healthcare, protecting reproductive freedom, and ad- vancing economic opportunity,” Lt. Gov. website says. She is credited with playing a key role in securing historic investments in K–12 and higher education, sup- porting working families, and defending civil rights for all Virginians. Hashmi was born in Hyderabad, India, and raised in the United States. She earned her undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University, a master’s degree from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in American Studies from Emory University. She taught for decades at Virginia’s community col- leges, and before her election to the State Senate, Hash- mi was in community leadership positions, serving on local boards and commissions and working closely with parents, educators, and civic leaders to strengthen public education and expand opportunity. Her professional career has been defined by a commitment to ensur- ing that the government reflects and responds to the people it serves, the website notes. “Lieutenant Governor Hashmi is focused on working with Governor Spanberger and the General Assembly to build a forward-looking Common- wealth: one that invests in education, protects fundamental freedoms, and ensures that every Virginian has the op- portunity to thrive.” The official responsibilities of Vir- ginia’s Lieutenant Governor are spelt out in Article V of the Constitution of Virginia. Hashmi will serve as Presi- dent of the Senate and preside over the Senate. As Lieutenant Governor, she is first in the line of succession to Governor. Should the Governor be unable to serve due to death, disqualification or resignation, the Lieutenant Governor shall become Governor. In addition to these Constitutional responsibilities, the Code of Virginia provides that the Lieutenant Gover- nor shall serve as a member of sev- eral other state boards, commissions and councils, including the Board of Trustees of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the Center for Rural Virginia; the Board of Directors of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Virginia Tourism Authority; the Virginia Military Ad- visory Council, the Commonwealth Preparedness Council and the Council on Virginia’s Future. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:FACEBOOK PHOTO:SCREENSHOT FROM HASHMI’S CAMPAIGNVIDEO PHOTO:SCREENSHOT FROM CAMPAIGNVIDEO Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi being sworn in January 17, 2026. A campaign rally led by candidate for Lt. Gov. of Virginia Ghazala Hashmi. Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi at the podium on winning the election Nov. 4, 2025.