MUKILTEO—Riaz Khan, a Republican and former Mukilteo City Council member, has filed on Friday, May 8, his candidacy for the Washington State Senate in the 21st Legislative District, setting up a rematch with longtime Democratic incumbent Sen. Marko Liias. Khan and Liias faced off in the 2018 Senate primary.
Liias, a lifelong Washingtonian first appointed to the state House in 2008, chairs the Senate Transportation Committee. He has championed major infrastructure investments, including the landmark Move Ahead Washington package that directs nearly $17 billion over 16 years into roads, bridges, ferries and public transit while creating family-wage jobs and addressing climate goals.
He has also worked to make roads safer by targeting speeding in work zones, near schools and parks, and has backed measures to expand educational and career opportunities, strengthen the Working Families Tax Credit, expand senior property tax relief, cap insulin costs at $35 and improve access to affordable medications.
Khan, who holds a master’s degree in business administration and is a certified public manager, emphasizes fiscal accountability, public safety and community-focused development.
During his four years on the Mukilteo City Council he supported increasing the number of police officers to bolster local safety, advocated for the city’s waterfront redevelopment project to enhance public access and economic vitality, and pushed for improvements to the senior center. He traveled to Olympia multiple times to secure state funding for these local priorities.
If elected, Khan will be the first Muslim elected to the Washington State Senate.
Author: Mario Lotmore
