State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, a prominent Indian immigrant and Democrat from Chester, has won the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s lieutenant governorship, according to The Associated Press. Hashmi, who has been endorsed by both abortion rights groups and labor organizations, is set to face Republican nominee John Reid in the November general election. The race was closely contested among several candidates, including former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, who emphasized bipartisan cooperation, and former Green Bay Packers safety Aaron Rouse, who criticized Republican leadership in Washington.
Hashmi, whose county directly abuts Richmond-Petersburg, positioned herself as a progressive who emphasized support for public education, abortion rights, and affordable housing. She also serves as chairwoman of the Senate Education and Health Committee in Richmond. Other candidates in the race included Prince William County School Board Chair Dr. Babur Lateef and union leader Alexander Bastani.
Stoney, who conceded on Wednesday, moved on to become mayor of Richmond, the capital city, and oversaw the removal of several Confederate sculptures that for decades lined the famous Monument Avenue from the Fan District to downtown. In the Washington Post at the time, Stoney wrote that there