Virginia Democrats nominate progressive candidate Ghazala Hashmi for state Lt. Gov.

Hashmi, who won the nomination by less than one percentage point, is the first Muslim and the first Indian-American to be nominated to appear on the ballot for a Virginia statewide office.

Published: June 18, 2025 5:05pm

Virginia Democratic voters on Wednesday elected a total female ticket for the state's top seats in November, after nominating progressive state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi to run alongside former Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger as lieutenant governor.

Spanberger ran unopposed for the party's nomination for governor in Tuesday's primaries, and incumbent Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears was unopposed for the Republican nomination for governor. Republicans have already chosen their nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general, with John Reid representing the party for lt. gov.

Former Virginia Del. Jay Jones won the Democratic Party's nomination for state attorney general, and will face Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares in the November general election.

Hashmi, who won the nomination by less than one percentage point, is the first Muslim and the first Indian-American to be nominated to appear on the ballot for a Virginia statewide office, the Associated Press reported. She defeated five other candidates for the nomination, winning 27.4% of the votes.  

“As the Democratic ticket running to serve as Virginia’s next Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General, we are united in our focus on the issues that matter to our fellow Virginians,” Hashmi, Jones and Spanberger said in a joint statement.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.

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