Virginia Democrats Tap ‘Left-Wing Progressive’ as Lieutenant Governor Nominee

Virginia Democrats are eyeing an opportunity in November to reclaim the lieutenant governor’s seat, which Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican nominee for governor, will be vacating.

By noon Wednesday, The Associated Press had verified Democrat state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, who represents Chesterfield County and part of Richmond, as the party’s nominee with 27.39% of the vote, narrowly defeating former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (26.64%) and state Sen. Aaron Rouse of the Virginia Beach area (26.34%).

Hashmi will square off against Republican John Reid, a Richmond conservative talk-radio host, who ran unopposed on the GOP side.

Reid told The Daily Signal’s Joe Thomas before the primary results came in that he was ready for a fight with whomever Democrats chose as their nominee.

“Hashmi, the senator from Chesterfield, she very proudly proclaims herself as a left-wing progressive,” said Reid. “She’s been out in front with a bullhorn screaming about [President Donald] Trump.”

He added:

I like to be respectful, but she’s a total radical.

“I feel pretty good that whoever the Democrats pick, it’s going to be a great contrast. And I think normal Virginians who just want to live in peace and raise their families and feel good about life in Virginia, that they’re going to pick somebody like me, who’s normal,” Reid said.