Democratic state Rep. Marko Liias of Edmonds entered the 2012 race for Congress today, saying he intends to carry the torch for the state’s middle class to the nation’s Capitol.
“I really feel like middle class families from Washington state don’t have a voice in Washington, D.C.,” he said.
They worry about finding a job and putting their children through college, he said, then see Congress “not focusing on these challenges. They are focusing on ideological battles and issues that are not relevant to Washington families.”
Liias, 30, a former Mukilteo City Councilman, was appointed to the state Legislature at the start of 2008 to succeed Brian Sullivan following his election to the Snohomish County Council. Voters elected Liias to a full term in November 2008 and re-elected him in 2010.
Liias, who is trying to become the state’s first openly gay member of Congress, is the fifth Democrat in the race for the 1st Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash. Inslee is not seeking re-election in order to run for governor.
On Monday, state Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, announced his candidacy. Also in the race are state Rep. Roger Goodman and former state lawmaker Laura Ruderman — both of Kirkland — and Darshan Rauniyar of Bothell.
Republican James Watkins, also of Kirkland, is the only GOP candidate to declare.
More Democrats – and possibly Republicans – may get into this contest when the final lines for the congressional district are drawn through redistricting later this year.
“I think it’s great voters will have a lot of choices,” Liias said of the crowded field.
Liias’s decision does mean his legislative seat will be up for grabs in 2012. He said he intends to serve out his term.
“I asked for this job,” he said. “I made a commitment that I will serve this term and I don’t anticipate breaking that commitment.”
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