Incumbent Democratic Senator Ghazala Hashmi was born in Hyderabad, India in 1964 and moved to the United States with her mother and brother when she was four years old. She spent nearly 30 years as a professor at the University of Richmond and Reynolds Community College. Hashmi was elected to the Virginia General Assembly in November 2019, becoming the first Muslim and the first South Asian American to serve in the Virginia Senate. She serves as the Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Public Education and sits on several Senate committees. Her top legislative priorities include education, equity, the environment, and healthcare access.

Education is a top legislative priority for Senator Hashmi, who has championed legislation and budget amendments to provide increased support for educators and vulnerable students, such as English Language Learners and students with disabilities. Senator Hashmi believes that accessible and equitable education for all students can be achieved by supporting educators and students, addressing areas of inequality, protecting vulnerable populations in schools, and keeping schools free from gun violence. Additionally, she was a chief co-patron for a bill to offer in-state tuition to Virginia students regardless of immigration status.

Senator Hashmi emphasizes that health care is a human right. Within those rights, she recognizes the need for affordable coverage, access to safe and legal abortion, and low-cost prescription drugs. She also advocates for expanding access to mental health services. Her bill to increase access to professional counselors passed during the 2023 General Assembly. As a member of the Senate Health and Education Committee, she has consistently stood against attempts to roll back progressive legislation.

Senator Hashmi recognizes the effects of human-caused climate change in the Commonwealth. She believes in policies that protect communities and the environment. Among her concerns are carbon emissions, coastal resiliency programs, flooding, and environmental justice. During the 2020 General Assembly, she patroned a bill that defined “environmental justice” and ensured it would be policy to promote throughout the state. Her bill to establish the Virginia Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Historic Preservation Fund passed during the 2022 General Assembly.

Senator Hashmi prioritizes the Care Economy, noting it is fundamental to the growth of the economy. She is a champion for expanding access to childcare, home healthcare and elder care, and proper compensation for domestic workers. She supports unions and workers’ right to collective bargaining and uplifts a living wage as a fundamental right. As a professor in both university and community college, Senator Hashmi advocates for strong career training opportunities for degree-seeking community college students.

Incumbent Democratic Senator Ghazala Hashmi is facing a challenge from Republican Hayden Fisher in the general election for Virginia’s new 15th State Senate district. Little information was found on Fisher’s stances on several issues. However, his campaign site boasts anti-trans policies when it comes to education and student sports.

Because of her history of fighting for progressive policy and her commitment to empowering communities across the Commonwealth, Senator Ghazala Hashmi is the clear progressive choice in this race.
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