In Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial election, six Democratic candidates are running for the position of Lieutenant Governor, including Pakistani-American Babar Latif and Indian-American Ghazala Hashmi.
Ghazala Hashmi has won the recent primary election; although some votes are still being counted, she has declared victory and received support from several party leaders.
Ghazala Hashmi is a member of the Virginia Senate and is the first Muslim and South Asian American woman to enter the state legislature. She historically won her seat in 2019 and has now emerged as the Democratic candidate for the 2025 Lieutenant Governor election.
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Babar Latif is the Chairman of the Prince William County School Board and an ophthalmologist. His campaign has focused on education, healthcare, and public service.
Ghazala Hashmi’s campaign has emphasized public education, voting rights, reproductive freedom, healthcare access, and environmental protection. She has received support from the Black community, women’s rights, and social justice groups.
Babar Latif’s campaign has highlighted education funding, expansion of mental health services in educational institutions, and protection of teachers’ rights. He has also played a prominent role in the healthcare sector as Chairman of the University of Virginia Health System Board.
Ghazala Hashmi’s recent victory is a significant development for the Democratic Party, and if she wins the general election in November, she will become Virginia’s first Muslim and South Asian American Lieutenant Governor.
The elections for Governor and Lieutenant Governor in Virginia will be held on November 4, 2025. These elections will be for key state-level positions, including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and all 100 seats of the Virginia House of Delegates.
Previously, primary elections were held on June 17, 2025, in which Ghazala Hashmi secured the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor, and John Reid secured the Republican nomination.
