Virginia state Senator Ghazala Hashmi has made history by winning the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. Hashmi, the first Muslim woman in the Virginia Senate, could potentially become the first to hold the state's second-highest office.

The lieutenant governor candidates in Virginia are poised to break new ground following Senator Ghazala Hashmi's victory in the Democratic primary for the position on Wednesday.

Hashmi's win marks a significant milestone as she is the first Muslim and Indian-American to be nominated for a Virginia statewide office. She emerged victorious after a tight primary race, narrowly defeating five other candidates, including Democrat Levar Stoney by a margin of less than one percentage point. Stoney graciously congratulated Hashmi in a concession statement.

Now, Hashmi is set to face Republican John Reid in the general election. Reid, the first openly gay man to receive a major party's endorsement for statewide office in Virginia, became the de-facto nominee after his primary opponent withdrew from the race.

Her triumph completes the Democratic ticket ahead of the November election. This follows former Delegate Jay Jones securing the party's nomination for attorney general late Tuesday.

Hashmi, Jones, and U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger, the gubernatorial nominee, issued a joint statement on Wednesday emphasizing their shared commitment to addressing the concerns of Virginians.

Virginia's off-year elections often attract national attention and are seen as a potential indicator for politicians as they prepare for the 2026 midterms. This year's election is poised to make history with the diverse slate of candidates.

Spanberger, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination, will compete against Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears in the governor's race. The female nominees virtually guarantee that Virginia will have a female governor for the first time in its nearly 250-year history.

Conservatives did not hold statewide primaries this year, with only one candidate advancing to the general election ballot in each contest.

Reid, a conservative talk-radio host, clinched the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor despite internal disagreements over allegations linking him to a social media account sharing explicit content, which he vehemently denied.

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares secured his spot on the ballot after announcing his reelection bid.

Approximately 481,000 votes have been counted in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, while about 479,000 votes were tallied in the attorney general contest.

Hashmi's political journey has been characterized by numerous firsts, including being the first Muslim woman and South Asian American in Virginia's upper chamber.

Having immigrated from India to Georgia at a young age, Hashmi later settled in Richmond after earning a doctorate in American literature. She had a successful career as a professor, teaching at the University of Richmond and Reynolds Community College.

Hashmi distinguished herself by highlighting her legislative accomplishments, such as introducing bills to secure Virginians' right to contraception, which were passed by both chambers but vetoed by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin.