Ghazala Hashmi
Hashmi in 2021
Member of the Virginia Senate
Assumed office
January 8, 2020
Preceded byGlen Sturtevant
Constituency10th District (2020–2024)
15th District (2024–Present)
Personal details
Born
Ghazala Firdous Hashmi

(1964-07-05) July 5, 1964
Hyderabad, India
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
ResidenceChesterfield, Virginia
Alma materGeorgia Southern University (BA)
Emory University (PhD)
OccupationPolitician, academic administrator, educator
CommitteesAgriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Education and Health
General Laws and Technology
Local Government
Websiteghazalahashmi.com

Ghazala Firdous Hashmi (born July 5, 1964) is an Indian-born American politician and former academic administrator and educator. A Democrat, Hashmi represents the 10th district in the Senate of Virginia. She worked as an educator and academic administrator for 25 years before running for office.

Early life and education

Hashmi was born in Hyderabad, India, in 1964 to Tanveer and Zia Hashmi. She lived at her maternal grandparents' home in Malakpet during her childhood. Her maternal grandfather served in the finance department of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Her family moved to the United States in 1969.[1][2]

Hashmi completed a B.A. in English at Georgia Southern University where she was a member of the honors program and received a full four-year scholarship. She earned a Ph.D. in English from Emory University on full fellowship.[3] Her 1992 dissertation was titled William Carlos Williams and the American ground of "In the American Grain" and "Paterson."[4]

Career

Hashmi was an educator and academic administrator for 25 years.[1] She was a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Richmond. Additionally, she received multiple awards and medals for scholarship, teaching, and multicultural enrichment[5] at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, an institution at which she served as the founding director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.[1] In the 2019 Virginia Senate election, Hashmi won Virginia's 10th Senate district, defeating incumbent Republican Glen Sturtevant. She is the first woman to represent the district and the first Muslim elected to the Senate of Virginia.[6] She was officially sworn into office on January 8, 2020.[7][8][9]

Personal life

Hashmi moved to Richmond in 1991 with her husband. They have two daughters.[1] Hashmi resides in Midlothian, Virginia.[3] Her father was also an academic.[1]

Electoral history

2019 election

DateElectionCandidatePartyVotes %
Virginia Senate, 10th district
November 5, 2019[10] General Glen H. Sturtevant Jr. Republican 36,811 45.60
Ghazala Hashmi Democratic 43,806 54.30
Write Ins 49 0.01
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Hashmi, Rasia (November 7, 2019). "Senator Ghazala Hashmi is 'deeply attached' to Hyderabad". The Siasat Daily. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  2. ↑ Budryk, Zack (November 5, 2019). "Ghazala Hashmi becomes first Muslim woman elected to Virginia's state senate". The Hill. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Indian American Ghazala Hashmi wins Democratic nomination from Virginia's 10th Senate District". The American Bazaar. June 13, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  4. ↑ Hashmi, Ghazala Firdous (1992). William Carlos Williams and the American ground of In the American grain and Paterson (Thesis). OCLC 29824251.
  5. ↑ "Diversity and Inclusion at Reynolds: Reynolds Multicultural Enrichment Award". Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  6. ↑ Mirshahi, Dean (November 6, 2019). "Democrat Ghazala Hashmi wins 10th Senate District race". 8News. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  7. ↑ Suderman, Alan; Rankin, Sarah (January 8, 2020). "Newly empowered Virginia Democrats promise action". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Newly-Empowered Virginia Democrats Promise Action | Voice of America – English". www.voanews.com.
  9. ↑ "Asombra diversidad étnica de nueva Legislatura de Virginia" [Ethnic diversity in new Virginia Legislature amazes]. Houston Chronicle (in Spanish). January 8, 2020. Archived from the original on January 8, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Virginia State Senate District 10". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
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