Ghazala Hashmi has grow to be the primary Muslim nominee for statewide workplace in Virginia’s historical past, successful the Democratic main election for lieutenant governor on Tuesday evening.
Hashmi gained the carefully watched main by lower than a share level, setting the stage for a historic election within the commonwealth. Her prime opponent, Levar Stoney, conceded on Wednesday.
At the moment a state senator, Hashmi will be a part of U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger on the prime of the Democratic ticket forward of November’s basic elections.
“We are united in our focus on the issues that matter to our fellow Virginians,” Spanberger, Hashmi and Democratic legal professional basic nominee Jay Jones mentioned in a press release.
Hashmi’s race with Stoney was probably the most carefully watched main in Virginia forward of Tuesday’s vote. Spanberger ran unopposed for the governor’s nomination, whereas the Republican nominations for governor and lieutenant governor have been additionally uncontested.
Each elections will result in firsts within the state’s 250-year historical past. The state will elect its first feminine governor whether or not Spanberger or her Republican opponent, present Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, wins in November. Earle-Sears is already the primary feminine lieutenant governor and first Black particular person to carry statewide workplace in Virginia.
In the meantime, within the lieutenant governor’s race, Hashmi could possibly be the primary Muslim and first Indian-American to carry statewide workplace. But when she loses, Republican nominee John Reid would be the first overtly homosexual man elected statewide in Virginia.
Beneath Virginia regulation, the present governor, Republican Glenn Youngkin, can’t be reelected.
