Marko Liias

Marko Liias
Member of the Washington State Senate
from the 21st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 22, 2014
Preceded byPaull Shin
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 21st district
In office
January 7, 2008 – January 22, 2014
Preceded byBrian Sullivan
Succeeded byLillian Ortiz-Self
Personal details
BornMarko Sakari Liias
(1981-07-17) July 17, 1981
Edmonds, Washington, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
EducationGeorgetown University (BA)
University of Washington (MA)
Signature
WebsiteState Senate website

Marko Sakari Liias[1] (born July 17, 1981) is an American politician serving as a member of the Washington State Senate, representing the 21st district since 2014. The district, located within Snohomish County, includes portions of Lynnwood and Everett, as well as his hometown of Mukilteo and his native Edmonds.[2] A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives from 2008 to 2014.

Early life and education

Liias grew up in south Everett, Washington and attended public school in Mukilteo.[3] He is a graduate of Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, Washington. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he studied government and international relations. During his time at Georgetown, he was an intern in the office of Congressman Jay Inslee. He later pursued graduate coursework at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, receiving a Master’s in public administration.

Career

Mukilteo City Council

At the age of 24, Liias was elected to Mukilteo City Council in November 2005, running unopposed. He had served on the Snohomish County Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board from 2003 to 2004, and as a member of the Snohomish County Board of Equalization from 2004 to 2006. As a city councilman, he also served as an alternate board member for Community Transit, and as a representative to the Puget Sound Regional Council.[4]

State House

When Rep. Brian Sullivan was elected to Snohomish County Council in November 2007, he resigned his seat in the Washington State Legislature. The Democratic precinct committee officers (PCOs) from the 21st district had the opportunity of selecting his successor, subject to the county council's ratification. With 21 votes, Liias was their first choice, defeating Lynnwood city councilman Mark Smith (16 votes) and Snohomish County Labor Council president Darrell Chapman (15 votes).[4] The council voted unanimously to confirm the choice of the PCOs and appointed Liias to the seat.[5]

After being elected to his first full term in 2008, Liias was selected as the vice chair of the House Transportation Committee, one of three budget-writing committees in the House of Representatives. He was also selected to serve on the influential Rules Committee, which plays a critical gatekeeping role in the legislative process. Liias served on three other committees: Education, Agriculture & Natural Resources, and Community & Economic Development & Trade. In January 2011, Liias was reappointed as vice chair of the House Transportation Committee, and he was appointed to the Education Committee and the Technology, Energy and Communications Committee.

State Senate

In January 2014, the district state senator, Paull Shin of the 21st Legislative District resigned following a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The Democratic precinct committee officers (PCOs) of the district selected then-State Representative Marko Liias as their sole nominee to fill the vacancy.[6] The Snohomish County Council unanimously confirmed the appointment, and Liias was sworn into the Washington State Senate on January 22, 2014.[7]

Since then, Liias has been elected to full terms in the Senate and is currently serving his third term following reelection in 2022. He serves as the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and sits on the Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Committee, Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, the Oral History Advisory Committee, and the Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee.[8]

Congressional candidate

On August 2, 2011, Liias announced he would be a candidate in 2012 for the 1st district seat in the U.S. House held by Congressman Jay Inslee, who retired to mount a successful bid for governor.[9]

As a result of Washington's decennial redistricting process (and the addition of a tenth congressional district), Liias's home was moved out of the 1st congressional district. Liias responded by dropping his congressional campaign on December 29, 2011, and announcing he would seek re-election to the legislature in 2012.[10]

State treasurer race

On May 19, 2016, Liias announced he was running for state treasurer.[11] In the primary election held on August 2, 2016, the two Republican candidates placed first and second, with the three Democratic candidates placing third, fourth and fifth. Liias placed third, earning 20% of the vote.[12]

Lieutenant governor race

See also: 2020 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election

Liias ran for Lieutenant Governor of Washington in 2020. He came in second in the primary but was defeated by Denny Heck in the general election.[13]

Elections

Liias was first elected to Position 2 in the Washington House of Representatives from the 21st Legislative District in November 2008. He faced no Democratic opposition in the primary and defeated Republican Andrew Funk, then an 18-year-old challenger, with nearly 64% of the vote.[14]

In 2010, Liias was reelected to the House after defeating Republican Elizabeth Scott with 54% of the vote.[15] In 2012, he secured another term by winning 60% of the vote against Republican Kevin Morrison, a write-in candidate who advanced to the general election.[16] Liias served in the House until his appointment to the state Senate in January 2014.

After completing the remainder of Senator Shin’s term, Liias successfully ran for election to the Senate in 2014. He defeated Dan Matthews receiving 54.34% of the vote.[17] In his first reelection in 2018, he defeated Republican Mario Lionel Lotmore, receiving 63.16% of the vote.[18] In 2022, he won reelection with 63.25% of the vote, defeating Republican Janelle Cass.[19]

Political positions

LGBTQ+ rights

Liias supports transgender rights and supports gender-affirming care for youth that identify as transgender.[20] He was the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 5599, which allowed "organizations providing services to unsheltered youth to delay notifying a parent or guardian" if the youth is pursuing gender-affirming health care.[21]

Animal welfare

In April 2025, Liias sponsored legislation banning the use of elephants, bears, wild cats, and nonhuman primates in circuses in Washington state.[22]

Personal life

Liias is openly gay.[23] He is of Finnish American descent and speaks Finnish.[24]

References

  1. ^ "The 143rd Annual Ceremony". University of Washington. 2018-06-09. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  2. ^ "Washington State Legislature: 21st district". Archived from the original on 2006-02-11. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  3. ^ Cornfield, Jerry (2020-03-24). "Sen. Marko Liias launches campaign for lieutenant governor". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  4. ^ a b "Democrats tap Liias for Sullivan's seat". Lynnwood Enterprise. 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  5. ^ Chris Fyall. "County Council Appoints Marko Liias to State Legislature". Mukilteo Beacon. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  6. ^ "Rep. Marko Liias selected as sole choice for appointment to Paull Shin's Senate seat". 19 January 2014.
  7. ^ Rosenthal, Brian (22 January 2014). "Rep. Marko Liias moves from House to Senate to replace Paull Shin". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 27 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ^ "Senate Committees". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  9. ^ Connelly, Joel (2 August 2011). "Rep. Marko Liias running for Congress". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  10. ^ Connolly, Joel (2011-12-29). "Rep. Liias out of U.S. House race". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on 2012-01-09. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  11. ^ Connelly, Joel (19 May 2016). "Legistator who went through business bankruptcy runs for state treasurer". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  12. ^ "August 2nd, 2016 Primary Election Results". Elections & Voting. Secretary of State. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  13. ^ Cornfield, Jerry (2020-03-24). "Sen. Marko Liias launches campaign for lieutenant governor". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  14. ^ "November 04, 2008 General Election Results - Legislative District 21 - State Representative Pos. 2". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  15. ^ "November 02, 2010 General Election Results - Legislative District 21 - State Representative Pos. 2". results.vote.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  16. ^ "November 06, 2012 General Election Results - Legislative District 21 - State Representative Pos. 2". results.vote.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  17. ^ "November 4, 2014 General Election Results - Legislative District 21 - State Senator". results.vote.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  18. ^ "November 6, 2018 General Election Results - Legislative District 21 - State Senator". results.vote.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  19. ^ "November 8, 2022 General Election Results - LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 21 - State Senator". results.vote.wa.gov. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  20. ^ "Bill would protect runaway youth seeking gender-affirming care". 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  21. ^ "WA transgender youth bill targeted in national culture war". 1 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  22. ^ "WA bans use of elephants, bears in circuses". The Seattle Times. 2025-05-01. Retrieved 2026-04-04.
  23. ^ "WA state Legislature has 2nd largest gay caucus in U.S." Associated Press. 2008-01-23. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  24. ^ Jerry Cornfield (2008-01-19). "New legislators are still smiling after first week". Everett Herald. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
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