{{short description|American politician from Washington (born 1981)}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Marko Liias |image = Marko Liias 2011.jpg |state_senate = Washington State |district = 21st |term_start = January 22, 2014 |term_end = |predecessor = Paull Shin |successor = |state_house1 = Washington |district1 = 21st |term_start1 = January 7, 2008 |term_end1 = January 22, 2014 |predecessor1 = Brian Sullivan |successor1 = Lillian Ortiz-Self |birth_name = Marko Sakari Liias |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|7|17}} |birth_place = Edmonds, Washington, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic |education = Georgetown University (BA)<br>University of Washington (MA) |website = {{URL|sdc.wastateleg.org/liias|State Senate website}} |signature=Marko Liias Signature.png }} '''Marko Sakari Liias'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://docplayer.net/88237422-The-143rd-annual-ceremony-purple-pms-267-saturday-june-9-2018-at-husky-stadium.html|title=The 143rd Annual Ceremony|work=University of Washington|date=2018-06-09|access-date=2021-12-22}}</ref> (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.<ref name=legwa>{{cite web |url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Results.aspx?District=21 |title=Washington State Legislature: 21st district |accessdate=2008-01-23 |archive-date=2006-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060211060832/http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/results.aspx?District=21 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cornfield |first=Jerry |date=2020-03-24 |title=Sen. Marko Liias launches campaign for lieutenant governor |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/sen-marko-liias-to-launch-campaign-for-lieutenant-governor/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=HeraldNet.com |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref name=enterprise>{{cite news|url=http://www.enterprisenewspapers.com/article/20071221/ETP03/180251179/0/EVENTS&template=ETPZoneLTart |title=Democrats tap Liias for Sullivan's seat |work=Lynnwood Enterprise |accessdate=2008-01-23 |date=2007-12-21 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
===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).<ref name=enterprise /> The council voted unanimously to confirm the choice of the PCOs and appointed Liias to the seat.<ref name=beacon>{{cite news |url=http://www.mukilteobeacon.com/11608liias.html |author=Chris Fyall |title=County Council Appoints Marko Liias to State Legislature |work=Mukilteo Beacon |accessdate=2008-01-23}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://myedmondsnews.com/2014/01/rep-marko-liias-selected-sole-choice-appointment-paull-shins-senate-seat/|title = Rep. Marko Liias selected as sole choice for appointment to Paull Shin's Senate seat|date = 19 January 2014}}</ref> The Snohomish County Council unanimously confirmed the appointment, and Liias was sworn into the Washington State Senate on January 22, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosenthal |first1=Brian |title=Rep. Marko Liias moves from House to Senate to replace Paull Shin |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022731733_senatorliiasxml.html |publisher=The Seattle Times |access-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140123083150/http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022731733_senatorliiasxml.html |archive-date=23 January 2014 |date=22 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senate Committees |url=https://leg.wa.gov/about-the-legislature/senate/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Washington State Legislature}}</ref>
===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.<ref name="seapi">{{cite news|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/08/02/rep-marko-liias-running-for-congress/|agency=The Seattle Post-Intelligencer|title=Rep. Marko Liias running for Congress|date=2 August 2011|accessdate=6 August 2011|first=Joel|last=Connelly|archive-date=20 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920143627/http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/08/02/rep-marko-liias-running-for-congress/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news |first=Joel |last=Connolly |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/12/29/rep-liias-out-of-u-s-house-race/ |title=Rep. Liias out of U.S. House race |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=2011-12-29 |accessdate=2012-01-28 |archive-date=2012-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109152120/http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/12/29/rep-liias-out-of-u-s-house-race/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===State treasurer race=== {{main|2016 Washington State Treasurer election}} On May 19, 2016, Liias announced he was running for state treasurer.<ref name="Seapi 2">{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/State-Treasurer-candidate-went-through-business-7746490.php|agency=The Seattle Post-Intelligencer|title=Legistator who went through business bankruptcy runs for state treasurer|date=19 May 2016|accessdate=20 July 2016|first=Joel|last=Connelly}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=August 2nd, 2016 Primary Election Results|url=http://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20160802/State-Treasurer.html|website=Elections & Voting|publisher=Secretary of State|accessdate=31 August 2016}}</ref>
=== 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/sen-marko-liias-to-launch-campaign-for-lieutenant-governor/|title=Sen. Marko Liias launches campaign for lieutenant governor|last=Cornfield|first=Jerry|date=2020-03-24|website=HeraldNet.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-24}}</ref>
==Elections==
{{See also|2010 Washington's 21st Legislative District, House 2 election}} 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.<ref name="filing">{{Cite web |title=November 04, 2008 General Election Results - Legislative District 21 - State Representative Pos. 2 |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20081104/legislative-district-21-state-representative-pos-2.html |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Washington Secretary of State}}</ref>
In 2010, Liias was reelected to the House after defeating Republican Elizabeth Scott with 54% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=November 02, 2010 General Election Results - Legislative District 21 - State Representative Pos. 2 |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20101102/legislative-district-21-state-representative-pos-2.html |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=results.vote.wa.gov}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=November 06, 2012 General Election Results - Legislative District 21 - State Representative Pos. 2 |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20121106/legislative-district-21-state-representative-pos-2.html |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=results.vote.wa.gov}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=November 4, 2014 General Election Results - Legislative District 21 - State Senator |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20141104/legislative-district-21-state-senator.html |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=results.vote.wa.gov}}</ref> In his first reelection in 2018, he defeated Republican Mario Lionel Lotmore, receiving 63.16% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=November 6, 2018 General Election Results - Legislative District 21 - State Senator |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20181106/legislative-district-21-state-senator.html |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=results.vote.wa.gov}}</ref> In 2022, he won reelection with 63.25% of the vote, defeating Republican Janelle Cass.<ref>{{Cite web |title=November 8, 2022 General Election Results - LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 21 - State Senator |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20221108/legislative-district-21-state-senator.html |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=results.vote.wa.gov}}</ref>
==Political positions==
===LGBTQ+ rights=== Liias supports transgender rights and supports gender-affirming care for youth that identify as transgender.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bill would protect runaway youth seeking gender-affirming care |date=7 February 2023 |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/runaway-bill-would-add-protections-for-youth-seeking-gender-affirming-care |access-date=7 February 2023 |ref=34}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=WA transgender youth bill targeted in national culture war |date=1 May 2023 |url=https://crosscut.com/politics/2023/05/wa-transgender-youth-bill-targeted-national-culture-war |access-date=11 May 2023 |ref=35}}</ref>
=== Animal welfare === In April 2025, Liias sponsored legislation banning the use of elephants, bears, wild cats, and nonhuman primates in circuses in Washington state.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-01 |title=WA bans use of elephants, bears in circuses |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/wa-becomes-12th-state-to-restrict-circus-animal-use/ |access-date=2026-04-04 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Personal life== Liias is openly gay.<ref name=ap>{{cite news |url=http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP01232008news266921.cfm |title=WA state Legislature has 2nd largest gay caucus in U.S. |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=2008-01-23 |date=2008-01-23}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> He is of Finnish American descent and speaks Finnish.<ref name="smiling">{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080119/NEWS01/598241214/-1/rss02 |title=New legislators are still smiling after first week |author=Jerry Cornfield |work=Everett Herald |accessdate=2008-01-23 |date=2008-01-19}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090109005210/http://hdc.leg.wa.gov/members/liias House of Representatives homepage] *[http://www.markoliias.com/ Campaign website]
{{Washington State Senators}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liias, Marko}} Category:1981 births Category:21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature Category:American people of Finnish descent Category:Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives Category:Democratic Party Washington (state) state senators Category:American gay politicians Category:Georgetown University alumni Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Washington (state) Category:Living people Category:People from Edmonds, Washington Category:People from Mukilteo, Washington Category:Politicians from Everett, Washington Category:Washington (state) city council members