Liberal Forum

Democrats also retained control of the state Senate by just one seat. However, a winning Democrat senator, Ghazala Hashmi, may have lied about residing in the district. The situation could lead to the chamber falling into Republican hands. Democrats are slated to control the state Senate 21-19. Nevertheless, if Hashmi is ineligible to hold office because she lied on her campaign paperwork, she could be replaced by a Republican. Tie-breaking votes would be cast by Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears. Virginia Senate candidates are required to live in the district they are running for. Hashmi filed candidacy paperwork saying she lived in an apartment on Boulder Lake Drive in North Chesterfield in Senate District 15.

 The complaint puts Hashmi, and Virginia Democrats, in a particular bind.If Hashmi did live in the Chesterfield apartment, then she may have committed a felony by concealing her ownership of the Midlothian home on sworn election forms. The Certificate of Candidacy Qualification, which she signed on March 14, 2023, says, “I now reside at the address shown below in the district in which I seek office,” under which she listed the North Chesterfield apartment. The form also asks, “Do you or a member of your immediate family, separately or together, hold an interest valued at more than $5,000 in real property? DO NOT INCLUDE your principal residence. ”She checked “no,” and did not list the Midlothian home. However, real estate records show that she and her husband have owned that home since 1999. The home is valued at nearly $600,000, according to online records.

https://slaynews.com/news/virginia-demo ... newsletter

feckless...