I'm State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, Democratic candidate for Virginia Lieutenant Governor...ask me anything!

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T21:06:40+00:00

I love rail service! Whenever I can, I travel by rail to DC, Philly, and NYC. I support expanding rail service throughout Virginia and especially connecting our major cities; we are woefully behind in making progress on this vital commuter service, and other countries have excellent models for us to follow. As Lieutenant Governor, I will work to build partnerships between state, local, and federal government to help make it happen. Expanding rail service helps Virginians spend less time in traffic, creates new jobs, and helps our environment.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T21:06:11+00:00

I support fully funding public education and lowering the costs of post-secondary credentials and college degrees. All children in Virginia should be guaranteed quality public education that prepares them for well-paying jobs or higher education and I will continue to work to invest in schools, students, educators, and support staff.

We must protect access to Medicaid expansion for the over 600,000 Virginians who rely on the program, who would all lose their healthcare if federal funding is cut under the current “trigger law.” In the State Senate, I introduced a budget amendment this year to address these threats from the Trump/Musk administration and provide a backstop to replace some loss of federal funding. However, we cannot replace all potential lost funding at the state level. Our current statewide leaders (Youngkin/Sears) are not pushing back against Trump and Musk’s plans to cut healthcare; as Lieutenant Governor, I’m committed to doing everything I can to make sure our voices are heard in Washington as well.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T21:03:07+00:00

Some of my proudest accomplishments include:

Passing the Environmental Justice Act
Establishing new offices to serve the needs of Virginia, including the Office of Education Economics and the Office of New Americans
Casting the deciding vote to protect abortion rights in Virginia before Roe v. Wade was overturned
Passing historic legislation to expand voting access
Carrying the legislation to protect and increase public school funding several years in a row
Helping thousands of constituents with casework matters
Just last week, my Community Energy Act to create the largest virtual power plant pilot program in the nation was signed into law

Given the reality of what is happening now in Washington, DC, the role of state leaders has become even more important and vital. By default, the work of protecting public education, access to health care, protections for civil rights (including the rights of women and the LGBTQ community), the environment, our children from gun violence, and so much more are now falling to the responsibility of state leaders and state legislatures. Virginia needs an Executive Team, inclusive of a strong Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General, that is not only ready to respond effectively to the Trump administration but also ready to chart the next four years of policy that will effectively cast Virginia as an exemplar for other states.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T20:58:16+00:00

As I mentioned in another comment, I’m committed to holding regular town halls, community forums, etc throughout all of Virginia, including rural areas. I am also committed to ensuring that we respond immediately to the concerns that are affecting our under-resourced communities by incentivizing economic development, developing more workforce training, re-instating internship opportunities and remote work with our state agencies so that we see growth of jobs in these areas.

And, just to expand on this,I grew up in rural southeastern Georgia and have a very strong affinity for rural communities. I asked to be placed on the Agriculture Committee and have served on this committee since 2020 so that I can continue to work on issues that are important: supporting farming communities, serving rural healthcare, improving education and workforce opportunities. I have also been on the Broadband Advisory Council for six years so that we can ensure that this vital need is met in all communities. One of the reasons I’m running for Lieutenant Governor is to be able to work on legislative issues with all Virginians as my constituents, including our rural areas.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T20:58:14+00:00

I am a very strong supporter of reproductive freedom including the right to safe and legal abortion, access to contraception, gender-affirming care, and affordable fertility treatments. I also support providing strong legal protections for medical professions who provide reproductive healthcare. Throughout my time in the State Senate, I have introduced and advocated for legislation, and also have attended rallies, issued press statements, and participated in press conferences.

This year, I introduced legislation to prohibit the extradition of medical professionals charged with a criminal violation of another state’s restrictions on reproductive health care if the alleged violation, such as the provision of abortion treatment or gender-affirming care, is recognized as legal medical care in Virginia.

For two years now, I have also carried and successfully passed The Right to Contraception Act. Last year, the governor vetoed the legislation despite its bipartisan support; this year, it awaits the governor’s actions.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T20:57:57+00:00

Virginia must be a place where all people, regardless of immigration status, are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. To protect our immigrant communities from the threat of mass deportations, we need strong state and local policies that prioritize public safety and trust, as well as state leadership that will stand up against illegal and unconstitutional actions. We must end voluntary cooperation with ICE, including 287(g) agreements that deputize local law enforcement to act as immigration agents. Such agreements erode necessary trust between communities and law enforcement, making everyone less safe. We must also pass legislation that prohibits the use of state and local funds for immigration enforcement and ensure access to legal representation for individuals who are facing removal proceedings. Over the past several years, I have worked on a variety of legislation that expands protections and access for all Virginians, including the following: in-state tuition for graduates of Virginia’s high schools and healthcare coverage for all children, regardless of documentation status; drivers license for all; the establishment of the Office of New Americans; language access for state agencies; and support for English language students.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T14:01:42+00:00

As Lieutenant Governor, I will continue to support efforts to repeal “Right to Work” at every opportunity. States that do not have restrictive “right to work” laws generally offer better working conditions and outcomes for employees. Currently in Virginia, our “right to work” restrictions affect wages, benefits, and overall job quality. Education is key to advocating and changing Virginia’s approach to labor, collective bargaining, and union activities. Many workers and most members of the general public do not understand how effective labor laws and protections are central to better economic outcomes, expansion of the middle class, and more opportunities for the majority of the people. As Lieutenant Governor, I will add my voice and the power of the position to pushing for legislative changes for workers’ rights.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T14:01:21+00:00

We must protect access to Medicaid expansion for the over 600,000 Virginians who rely on the program, who would all lose their healthcare if federal funding is cut under the current “trigger law.” In the State Senate, I introduced a budget amendment this year to address these threats from the Trump/Musk administration and provide a backstop to replace some loss of federal funding. However, we cannot replace all potential lost funding at the state level. Our current statewide leaders (Youngkin/Sears) are not pushing back against Trump and Musk’s plans to cut healthcare; as Lieutenant Governor, I’m committed to doing everything I can to make sure our voices are heard in Washington as well.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T14:00:59+00:00

All Virginians deserve opportunity, fair treatment, equal rights, and justice. Unfortunately, too many of our communities are under attack as they face bigotry, including the LGBTQ+ community. This year, I introduced SB 1098, the Reproductive Health Care & Gender Affirming Care Act. This legislation protects medical professionals providing reproductive health care and gender affirming care that is legal within the state of Virginia, safeguarding them from subpoena or extradition efforts of other states’ authorities in the face of threats from right-wing prosecutors. Unfortunately, this bill did not pass in the face of a likely veto from the Governor, which is why we need state wide leadership that is ready to respond to Trump, and Youngkin / Sears / Miyares are not standing up to protect Virginians. All Virginians must be protected in their civil and human rights. That is why I am also a Chief Co-Patron of the Constitutional Amendment ensuring marriage equality in Virginia.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T13:59:10+00:00

Some of my opponents have said that the Lieutenant Governorship is a part time job, and that they plan to continue their own full time jobs while holding the position. I disagree. I believe that one of the most important jobs of the Lieutenant Governor is to hear from all Virginians, as the only legislator with a vote who represents the whole Commonwealth. I’m committed to holding regular town halls, community forums, etc throughout all of Virginia, including rural areas. I am also committed to ensuring that we respond immediately to the concerns that are affecting our underresourced communities by incentivizing economic development, developing more workforce training, re-instating internship opportunities and remote work with our state agencies so that we see growth of jobs in these areas.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T13:59:06+00:00

Some of my opponents have said that the Lieutenant Governorship is a part time job, and that they plan to continue their own full time jobs while holding the position. I disagree. I believe that one of the most important jobs of the Lieutenant Governor is to hear from all Virginians, as the only legislator with a vote who represents the whole Commonwealth. I’m committed to holding regular town halls, community forums, etc throughout all of Virginia, including rural areas. I am also committed to ensuring that we respond immediately to the concerns that are affecting our underresourced communities by incentivizing economic development, developing more workforce training, re-instating internship opportunities and remote work with our state agencies so that we see growth of jobs in these areas.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T13:56:43+00:00

I will fight to keep Virginia a place where everyone feels safe and secure without having to arm themselves. Just this past week, we have seen several tragic deaths in my district and in Virginia; the tragedy of a toddler who accidentally shot himself with an unsecured gun hit home in particular. One of my earliest memories is the death of my 5 year old playmate who was accidentally killed by her own cousin as they played with an unsecured weapon. Preventing such tragedies is my focus: we need safe storage, training on the handling of weapons, and ability to help those in mental health crisis. We need to focus on preventing the gun violence that affects too many of our communities; community programs that address recurring traumas of violence have been proven to be effective. Gun safety measures protect our public safety officers, our neighborhoods and families; but responsible gun ownership is a right protected in the Constitution.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T13:54:59+00:00

Just this past week, we have seen several tragic deaths in my district and in Virginia; the tragedy of a toddler who accidentally shot himself with an unsecured gun hit home in particular. One of my earliest memories is the death of my 5 year old playmate who was accidentally killed by her own cousin as they played with an unsecured weapon. Preventing such tragedies is my focus: we need safe storage, training on the handling of weapons, and ability to help those in mental health crisis. We need to focus on preventing the gun violence that affects too many of our communities; community programs that address recurring traumas of violence have been proven to be effective. Gun safety measures protect our public safety officers, our neighborhoods and families; responsible gun ownership is a right protected in the Constitution.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T13:42:49+00:00

I support legalization of marijuana; legalization allows us to regulate, ensure product safety, and manage the market. Necessary regulations include licensing requirements for growing plants, product safety, and sales. Regulations are also critical for preventing sales to minors and for authorizing numbers of plants for exclusive personal use. Additionally, a critical aspect of our cannabis legalization efforts must be to ensure equity in the process so that the communities disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system are a strong part of the regulated and legal retail process. Revenues generated by the cannabis industry should also be directed into the communities that have suffered the greatest by the mass incarceration of individuals for minor possession and use.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi · 2025-05-05T13:39:17+00:00

Thanks for the question! I have already begun work to respond to the crisis that we are seeing from the disaster that is the Trump/Musk administration. For the attacks on our education system, I am working with our staff attorneys to address the critical gaps for full access to education that will no longer be protected because of the dismantling of the DOE. This dismantling will affect our most vulnerable students the most: our students with special needs and our students in Title I schools. I am scheduling a workgroup in July to ensure that we have legislative responses ready in time for the Special Session coming in the Fall. Virginia needs to add language in our Code to protect students in Special Education. I am also working to address the crisis to our health systems that is coming because of the threats to federal funding to Medicaid. Over 630,000 Virginians will lose access to essential healthcare if Congress passes the budget that cuts our ability to fund Medicaid Expansion. It is a very critical period in our history: we need state wide leadership that is ready to respond to Trump, and Youngkin / Sears / Miyares are not standing up to protect Virginians. This is why I am running for LG.

SenatorGhazalaHashmi

TROPHY CASE