RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield) has filed paperwork for a run for Virginia lieutenant governor.
Sen. Hashmi, a two-term state senator, has not formally announced a campaign for lieutenant governor. But the filing with the state she submitted is a needed step to take political donations and begin campaign work.
“Senator Hashmi isn’t offering any comments today, but big news is coming soon,” the senator’s office said in a statement Monday.
Hashmi is expected to launch a campaign to join state Sen. Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach), Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney and Dr. Babur Lateef in the Democratic field seeking the party’s nomination for the 2025 general election.
The official duties of Virginia’s lieutenant governor are to preside over the state Senate as the president of the 40-member chamber and to succeed the governor if they were to leave office before their term is over.
The lieutenant governor casts tie-breaking votes when state senators are split on a measure and can make rulings on disputes between lawmakers.
The job is mainly an administrative role, but one seen as a springboard to the Executive Mansion.
Former Gov. Ralph Northam (D) and two former Virginia governors, Sen Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Douglas Wilder (D), all served as lieutenant governor before taking the commonwealth’s top elected office.
