RICHMOND — Virginia’s Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, Sen. , D-Chesterfield, made a rare solo campaign stop in Richmond on Wednesday morning for a roundtable discussion about public education.
Hashmi, who chairs the , said that her Republican opponent, John Reid, wants to cut funding for public education and close down public schools.
“It is a very dangerous road that John Reid wants to take Virginia down,†Hashmi said. “And by contrast, I'm going to work hard to protect our public education.â€
She was joined by a local parent, a Richmond Public Schools staffer and the Richmond School Board chairwoman. Hashmi took three questions from a group of five reporters before her campaign ended the event at a public library in downtown Richmond.
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Reid’s campaign manager emailed the Hashmi campaign Wednesday morning and wrote: “Since Senator Hashmi keeps refusing to debate, ducking forums, and hiding behind RSVP-required events instead of speaking with Virginia voters, we will make it easy for you. John would be glad to show up and actually have a real conversation with teachers, parents, and students.â€
Reid did not make an appearance at the event.
Reid has coined the nickname “hidin’ Hashmi†for the senator, whom he criticizes for what he terms her lack of public availability throughout the campaign. Reid has challenged Hashmi to 10 debates, and so far .
In response to the criticism, Hashmi said Wednesday: “I am out every day, so I don't know what he's talking about. He loves to throw darts, but my focus and my campaign has been very public.â€
'I am not hiding'
“I've been traveling across the state," Hashmi said. "I have put, actually, over 50,000 miles on my personal car as I talk to so many communities all throughout Virginia, and I am meeting with so many different groups. I already had three meetings this morning on different topics, and I'm looking forward to a packed day, packed week, and a packed several weeks. I am not hiding. I'm very visible.â€
Hashmi joined her running mates, Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor, and Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, at . Wednesday's roundtable was her first campaign stop in the area since then that was open to the Richmond press corps.
Reid has held several events open to the press in which he takes reporter questions – sometimes for up to an hour.
Reid released his first campaign ad of the season on Wednesday, which his campaign says is running statewide on digital and streaming platforms.
“Ghazala Hashmi is masquerading as a moderate but she’s really a dangerous, far-left, radical,†the ad says.
Hashmi, who has a big fundraising advantage over Reid, released several ads during the primary, in which she prevailed in a tight race that featured five other Democrats, but has not released any in the general election so far.
Early voting begins Sept. 19 and Election Day is Nov. 4.
