With Official Results Pending, Hashmi Declares Victory in Democratic Lieutenant Governor Primary

Richmond-based state Senator Ghazala Hashmi declared victory in Virginia’s Democratic lieutenant governor primary Tuesday night, although the official results of the six-way contest are yet to be determined.

Democrat Ghazala Hashmi was one of seven contenders vying to be Virginia’s next lieutenant governor. She remained the leading candidate, although official results of the race were not determined by Wednesday morning. (Photo courtesy campaign)

As of Wednesday morning, Hashmi remained the frontrunner in the contest, with 27.49% of 477,845 votes total. Her closest competitors were former Richmond mayor Levar Stoney, with 26.65%, and Aaron Rouse, a state senator representing Virginia Beach who earned 26.16%.

Jones edges Taylor in Democratic attorney general primary

The election’s razor-thin margins set the stage for a possible recount, because Virginia law allows defeated candidates to request a recount if the margin of victory is 1% or less. Stoney has not conceded, while Rouse admitted the results of the race weren’t “what we’d hoped for” and congratulated Hashmi on her apparent win in a tweet.

“I’m honored to be our Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor,” Hashmi tweeted Tuesday evening. Shortly after, the Democratic Party of Virginia announced that its full slate of statewide candidates had been set, with former state delegate Jay Jones the party’s pick for attorney general and former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger running for governor.

“With more than 480,000 ballots cast — including a record-breaking number during the early voting period — Virginians have made it clear: they are energized, engaged, and ready to elect Democrats up and down the ballot this November,” DPVA chair Lamont Bagby said in a statement Tuesday night. “With Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi, and Jay Jones forming the statewide ticket, and a record-breaking slate of House of Delegates nominees, Democrats are united, focused, and ready to win.”

Hashmi has served in the state legislature for six years and is the Senate Education and Health committee chair and has advocated for progressive priorities including reproductive health care, k-12 public education and affordable housing. She is also a career educator, having served for 30 years as a professor at the University of Richmond and then Reynolds Community College. She immigrated to the United States from India with her mother and has lived in the Richmond area since 1991.

Virginia lieutenant governor race questionnaire: Ghazala Hashmi

“I consider many of my colleagues across the aisle to be strong allies in the work to improve education outcomes and economic opportunities for the regions that they serve,” Hashmi said in an interview with the Mercury in the days leading up to the primary election, in which she framed herself as the most experienced legislator in the race and “uniquely qualified” to lead as lieutenant governor.

“Although a few of the issues upon which the General Assembly focuses are partisan in nature, the majority are nonpartisan and impact the lives of families and communities. These established relationships and a history of collaboration with several of these colleagues position me to work effectively, from the first day, with General Assembly members on both sides of the aisle,” Hashmi said.

by Samantha Willis, Virginia Mercury

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.