Democratic state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi made history Tuesday, defeating Republican radio host John Reid to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor and the first Muslim woman ever elected to the post.
The Associated Press called the race for Hashmi at 8:28 p.m. Tuesday. With 57% of the ballots counted, Hashmi led with 53.1% of the vote to Reid’s 46.6%.
Hashmi’s victory delivers Democrats a key down-ballot win, flipping the lieutenant governor’s office and giving the party new momentum heading into 2026. The Richmond-area lawmaker, who flipped a GOP-held Senate seat in 2019, overcame Reid’s populist campaign amid lingering tensions between the nominee and Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s allies.
The lieutenant governor’s role in Virginia is largely ceremonial, though it carries the power to break ties in the closely divided state Senate. The office is elected independently of the governor and is currently held by Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, a close ally of Youngkin.
The race remained mostly quiet until spring, when Reid’s campaign accused allies of the governor of circulating doctored, sexually explicit social media posts purportedly tied to him, allegations that led Reid’s lawyers to send a cease-and-desist letter to Youngkin’s team.
Days later, Youngkin publicly urged Reid to consider dropping out, telling reporters that “explicit social-media content like this is a distraction … for campaigns and from people paying attention to the most important issues.” He added that the decision to remain in the race was “up to John.”
Reid, a longtime Richmond radio personality and conservative commentator, leaned on his name recognition and blunt, anti-establishment message to connect with voters frustrated by gridlock in Richmond. He portrayed himself as a political outsider willing to challenge both parties.
JOHN REID PRESSES DEMOCRATIC RIVAL FOR ‘DUCKING’ DEBATES IN VIRGINIA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RACE
Hashmi, who immigrated from India and became the first Muslim woman elected to the Virginia Senate in 2019, entered the race with strong support from Democrats in the Richmond suburbs. She centered her campaign on abortion rights, education, and economic stability, arguing that the lieutenant governor should serve as a “steady voice” for inclusion and equality. She declined all debate invitations, prompting Reid to hold his own 40-minute event against an artificially generated version of her voice.
Only Virginia and New Jersey held gubernatorial elections in 2025, offering an early barometer of how Republicans are faring and a preview of the 2026 congressional midterm election landscape.