Usha Vance, Ghazala Hashmi named among Washington’s most powerful women

### Indian American and South Asian Women Named Among Washington’s Most Powerful Women in 2026

Indian American and South Asian women serving in politics, healthcare, media and public service have been featured among the 300 women selected by Washingtonian magazine for its 2026 list of the “Most Powerful Women in Washington.”

Published on September 30, the annual list recognizes women who are shaping institutions and influencing public life across government, business, law, education, healthcare, media, arts and nonprofit organizations in Washington and the surrounding region.

Among the prominent South Asian figures included this year are Usha Vance, the Second Lady of the United States, Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi and Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller.

Vance is featured in the magazine’s “National Politics” category. She is the first Indian American to serve as second lady and previously worked as a litigation attorney. Her legal career included clerkships with Chief Justice John Roberts and then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

As second lady, Vance has also focused on childhood literacy initiatives. Her efforts have included the Summer Reading Challenge and the “Storytime with the Second Lady” podcast, which promotes reading and literacy among children.

Hashmi is listed under “Local Politics.” Born in Hyderabad, India, she became Virginia’s 43rd lieutenant governor in January 2026.

The Virginia lieutenant governor’s office describes Hashmi as the first South Asian American elected to statewide office in Virginia and the first Muslim woman elected to statewide office in the United States.

Her inclusion reflects the growing presence of South Asian Americans in state-level political leadership in the Washington region and beyond.

Miller, who was born in Andhra Pradesh, India, is also recognized in the “Local Politics” category. She became Maryland’s lieutenant governor in 2023 after previously serving in the Maryland House of Delegates.

In July 2026, Miller was elected treasurer of the National Lieutenant Governors Association’s 2026-27 executive committee, adding another leadership role to her public service career.

The Washingtonian list extends beyond elected officials and includes South Asian women holding influential positions in healthcare, journalism and nonprofit organizations.

In healthcare, the magazine recognizes Dr. Rina Bansal, president of Inova Alexandria Hospital and a senior vice president at Inova. Bansal, who speaks Hindi and Punjabi, has held multiple leadership positions within the health system since joining in 2008.

She is currently involved in plans for a replacement Inova Alexandria Hospital, which is expected to open in 2028.

The media category includes Swati Sharma, editor-in-chief and publisher of Vox, and Amna Nawaz, co-anchor and co-managing editor of “PBS NewsHour.”

Goli Sheikholeslami, CEO of Politico, is also included on the list, recognizing her leadership in the Washington media industry.

In the nonprofit, philanthropy and religion category, Washingtonian names Radha Muthiah, president and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank.

The magazine said its editors consulted experts from various fields while compiling the list, looking for women who were influencing institutions, communities and public life in the Washington area.

Washingtonian also emphasized that the list includes women from across the political spectrum and is not intended as an endorsement of any particular political party or viewpoint.

The recognition highlights the increasingly diverse group of women occupying influential positions across Washington’s political, healthcare, media and civic institutions.

For Indian American and South Asian communities, the inclusion of figures such as Vance, Hashmi, Miller, Bansal, Sharma, Nawaz, Sheikholeslami and Muthiah reflects the growing visibility of South Asian leadership across sectors that shape the nation’s capital and the wider region.