Decision Maker

Ghazala Hashmi

Former Virginia State Senate - District 15

District 15, Virginia

Ghazala Firdous Hashmi is an Indian-American politician and former academic administrator and educator. She is a member of the Democratic Party and has represented the 15th district in the Senate of Virginia since 2020. Born in India, Hashmi immigrated to the United States with her family and pursued a career in education, dedicating 25 years to working as an educator and academic administrator. Her extensive experience in academia provided a strong foundation for her transition into politics. Hashmi's historic election in 2019 made her the first Muslim woman to serve in the Virginia State Senate. She is committed to advocating for educational reform, healthcare access, and environmental sustainability in her legislative role.