Two Muslim Democrat women, Ghazala Hashmi and Abrar Omeish made history by winning State Senator and a Fairfax County School Board in Virginia respectively as November 5 election proved to be a significant success for immigrant candidates including the state’s Muslims.
Their wins against Republican rivals have also been reported as “surprise” in the Pressas Ms. Hashmi defeated the two-term incumbent Republican Glen Sturtevant while Ms. Omeish, just 24-year-old, won a seat on the Fairfax County school Board.
Ghazala Hashmi, an immigrant who came to the United States as a child 50 years ago, has become the first Muslim woman to be elected in the State Senate.
Her campaign focused on issues of education and gun violence.
“This victory, is not mine alone. It belongs to all of you who believed that we needed to make progressive change here in Virginia, for all of you who felt that you haven’t had a voice and believed in me to be yours in the General Assembly,” Hashmi tweeted Tuesday evening.
This victory, is not mine alone. It belongs to all of you who believed that we needed to make progressive change here in Virginia, for all of you who felt that you haven’t had a voice and believed in me to be yours in the General Assembly.
— Ghazala Hashmi (@Hashmi4Va) November 6, 2019
When I asked young Lebanese Muslin woman about her feelings on victory, she said by winning a seat in Virginia becomes the first youngest Muslim woman to hold elected office in the State.
Ms. Omeish, 24 sounded enthusiastic to work for the Fairfax County School board.
Ms. Omeish particularly takes pride in her success on adding 1,500 more young voters, more young Muslim voices to bring about a positive change in the school system they get education through.
Proud to cast my vote for @AbrarOmeish. Do us proud. https://t.co/AoTDOKf5EY
— Corey Saylor (@SaylorCorey) November 6, 2019
“FCPS taught me to advocate, to be there for others, to make the community around me a better place, and to never give up. It taught me that this community gives everybody a fair chance, and that Fairfax County is a place I call home and that I will want to call home for the rest of my life, she said.
“ I am the first Muslim Lebanese elected in the US,” she told Views and News.
Ghazala Hashmi says she has meaningful plans to improve public education, implement common sense gun safety reforms, and protect access to healthcare.
