Virginia swore in Democrat state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi as its new lieutenant governor on Saturday, marking a historic moment as she placed her left hand on the Quran during her oath of office. Hashmi, a Muslim, is the first person of her faith to hold the position in the state’s history.
Video footage from the ceremony shows Hashmi being instructed to place her left hand on the Quran and raise her right hand as she took the oath. The symbolism of the moment drew national attention, particularly among conservatives and those concerned with the increasing influence of identity politics in state and national leadership.
Hashmi defeated radio host John Reid in the November 2025 election. Reid, a conservative commentator, ran on a platform centered on principled governance and bipartisanship. During the campaign, he emphasized the need to resist radical social policies and pledged to build consensus across party lines. Reid described his campaign as focused on “strong principles” and a desire to find common ground while opposing what he called “radical social justice warrior ideas.”
Hashmi campaigned on themes of diversity and representation. Her candidacy was promoted as a reflection of cultural and religious pluralism, despite the fact that Reid is openly gay — highlighting a complex dynamic in the race, where identity politics played a central role for both parties.
Alongside Hashmi, Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn in as Virginia’s new governor, becoming the first woman to hold the office. Spanberger, a former congresswoman, defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, who previously served as lieutenant governor. Spanberger’s victory marks the end of Republican Glenn Youngkin’s term as governor, as Virginia law prevents governors from serving consecutive terms.
With both the governor and lieutenant governor seats now held by Democrats, Virginia shifts further left politically, reinforcing Democrat control at the state executive level and prompting renewed concern among conservatives about the direction of the Commonwealth.
