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, who sought to become the first openly gay Republican elected to statewide office in the country. The race aimed to replace Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who ran unsuccessfully for governor.
Hashmi’s victory marks a historic milestone as she becomes the first Muslim woman in the United States elected to a statewide office. However, her campaign faced criticism from Republicans over her stance on parental notification policies regarding transgender students. Hashmi argued that parents should not be informed if a child discloses a transgender identity to a teacher, a position seen by critics as undermining parental rights.
Reid, who had previously been asked to withdraw by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin after allegations of sexually explicit online posts, held a 40-minute debate against an AI-generated version of Hashmi due to her refusal to participate in a live discussion.
Sam Barron has nearly two decades of experience covering politics, crime, and business.
