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Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi said it felt like “coming home” and “being with family” as she addressed attendees at the 19th American Telugu Association (ATA) Conference and Youth Convention in Baltimore on August 1, 2026.
Hashmi, the first South Asian elected to statewide office in Virginia, also reflected on her shared journey with Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, another South Asian trailblazer who became the first immigrant elected to statewide office in Maryland in 2022.
“Aruna and I were actually born in Hyderabad. We were both born in the same year, and that is unique in itself,” Hashmi said. “So, we are just a few months apart in our age. To have the two South Asian women who are in statewide office to be part of neighboring states is unique. We can work cooperatively together.”
Addressing members of the Indian American community in Virginia and Maryland, Hashmi expressed hope that they feel supported and valued for their contributions.
“I want to share to all of our community here, whether it’s in Maryland or in Virginia, I hope that you are feeling supported,” she said. Referring to those working in small businesses, large corporations, public office, classrooms, and healthcare professions, she added, “I hope you feel the ways in which your contribution and your presence truly matters.”
Hashmi said Virginia’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths and emphasized the importance of ensuring that every community is represented. “This is an opportunity for us to ensure that Virginia is represented with its full diversity. That we value the different communities that we have, and that we’re able to highlight the strength that comes from our diverse backgrounds. So I hope you know how much we still have to do that.”
Reflecting on her decision to enter public service, Hashmi said she was motivated by those who questioned whether she belonged in the United States. “I was told that perhaps I didn’t belong in this country. I was told that I was too different to win an elected office. I was told that Indian Americans do not do these sorts of things, and I knew that for the future of our children, we have to stand up, we have to speak out…” she said.
Recalling her election to the Virginia State Senate, Hashmi said voters demonstrated a desire for change. “When Virginia helped elect me as state senator,” she said, “We flipped a seat by 10 points. That showed Virginia and America the direction we were going in.”
She also reflected on her election as Virginia’s lieutenant governor in November, saying it underscored the contributions of immigrant communities.
“We showed the country that this is where we call home, and that we have so much to contribute,” Hashmi said. “So, I encourage everybody to be involved, to speak out, to participate in whatever capacity you have, in whatever organizations you want to be engaged in. This is how we continue to move forward as a community.”
Hashmi also recognized her husband, Azhar Rafiq, Virginia’s second gentleman. “My husband Azhar Rafiq also made history. He is the first Desi-origin second gentleman in the entire United States,” she said.
Hashmi also shared memories of her childhood visits to the city with her grandparents. She described the Old City as “poetic and beautiful” and recalled visits to Charminar and Laad Bazaar, enjoying Hyderabadi biryani, and traveling by train to Secunderabad and Warangal.
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