Cyrus Habib facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cyrus Habib
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Official portrait, 2015
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| 16th Lieutenant Governor of Washington | |
| In office January 11, 2017 – January 13, 2021 |
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| Governor | Jay Inslee |
| Preceded by | Brad Owen |
| Succeeded by | Denny Heck |
| Member of the Washington Senate from the 48th district |
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| In office January 12, 2015 – January 4, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Rodney Tom |
| Succeeded by | Patty Kuderer |
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 48th district |
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| In office January 14, 2013 – January 12, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Deborah Eddy |
| Succeeded by | Joan McBride |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kamyar Cyrus Habib
August 22, 1981 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Parents |
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| Education | Columbia University (BA) St John's College, Oxford (MLitt) Yale University (JD) |
Kamyar Cyrus Habib (born August 22, 1981) is an American Jesuit, lawyer, and politician. He served as a state lawmaker from 2013 to 2017. After that, he became the 16th lieutenant governor of Washington from 2017 to 2021. The lieutenant governor is like a vice-president for a state. They step in when the governor is away. Cyrus Habib was even the acting governor for over six months in 2019. He is the first Iranian American to be elected to a statewide office in the United States.
Cyrus Habib has been completely blind since he was eight years old. He lost his eyesight because of cancer. In March 2020, he shared his plans to leave politics. He decided to become a Jesuit priest in the Catholic Church after his term ended.
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Early Life and Education
Cyrus Habib was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents had moved to the U.S. from Iran. His mother, Susan Amini, is a judge, and his father, Mo Habib, is an engineer. Cyrus Habib survived cancer three times. He lost his eyesight and became fully blind when he was eight. Soon after, his family moved to Bellevue, Washington. He finished high school at Bellevue International School in 1999.
In 2003, he earned his first degree from Columbia University. He studied English, Comparative Literature, and Middle Eastern Studies. While at college, he had a collection of his photographs published. He also worked in Senator Hillary Clinton's office in New York City. He was recognized as a Truman Scholar in 2002.
As a Rhodes Scholar, Cyrus Habib studied at St. John's College at the University of Oxford. He earned a Master of Letters degree in English literature. He was also named a Soros Fellow in 2007.
Later, he earned a law degree from Yale Law School in 2009. He worked as an editor for the Yale Law Journal. He also pushed for U.S. money to be redesigned so blind people could tell the different bills apart. After law school, Habib worked as a lawyer at a firm called Perkins Coie. He helped new technology companies and led community projects.
Political Journey
Serving in the State Legislature
In 2012, Cyrus Habib won a seat in the Washington House of Representatives. He represented Washington's 48th Legislative District. This area includes cities like Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond. In the House, his fellow lawmakers chose him to be Vice Chair of the Technology and Economic Development Committee.
In 2014, Habib was elected to the Washington State Senate. He won with 65% of the votes. Right after his election, he was chosen by his fellow Democrats to be the Senate Democratic Whip. This made him one of the top leaders in the State Senate.
Becoming Lieutenant Governor
Before the 2016 legislative session, Habib announced he would run for Lieutenant Governor of Washington. The person in this job is elected by the people. He won the primary election against ten other candidates. In November 2016, he won the general election. President Barack Obama supported his campaign.
Other Important Roles
While in state politics, Cyrus Habib also had other roles. Starting in 2013, he taught at the Seattle University School of Law.
He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He served on the boards of many non-profit groups. These included the Seattle Symphony and Seattle Children's Hospital Foundation.
Religious Calling
On March 19, 2020, Cyrus Habib announced he would not run for re-election. He decided to end his political career and become a Catholic priest. He had become Catholic while studying at Oxford. He started thinking about becoming a priest in 2018. He was accepted by the Jesuits in 2019. His entry was set for after his term as lieutenant governor ended.
He wrote in America magazine about his decision:
Over the past couple of years ... I have felt a calling to dedicate my life in a more direct and personal way to serving the marginalized, empowering the vulnerable, healing those who suffer from spiritual wounds and accompanying those discerning their own futures.... I have come to believe that the best way to deepen my commitment to social justice is to reduce the complexity in my own life and dedicate it to serving others.
He joined the Jesuit training program in Culver City, California in the fall of 2020. On August 13, 2022, Habib made his vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a Jesuit.
What He Worked On
As Lieutenant Governor, Cyrus Habib also led the Washington State Senate. His main goals were to make college more accessible for everyone. He also wanted to help create more jobs through international trade.
He started programs to help students get into college. In 2018, he created Washington World Fellows. This program helps high school students become global leaders. It includes studying abroad and college preparation. He also started Complete Washington. This program helps working adults get degrees for high-demand jobs.
Habib also created the Boundless Washington program. This program helps young people with disabilities through outdoor adventures and leadership training. In 2019, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to help raise money for this program.
In 2019, Habib met with the Dalai Lama in India. They talked about starting his Compassion Scholars program in Washington State. This program aims to teach ethical leadership in high schools.
The Lieutenant Governor often acts as a trade ambassador for the state. Habib led trips to other countries. These trips aimed to help Washington companies sell their products abroad. They also encouraged foreign companies to invest in Washington.
Laws He Supported
Helping Students and Education
In 2018, he disagreed with the idea that "college isn't for everyone." He called it an "elitist" view. He said that not making college more accessible would make the gap between rich and poor wider. In 2020, his office suggested new laws to remove barriers in Washington's college system. These laws aimed to make sure students and families got financial aid information. They also wanted to create one simple college application for public universities.
Boosting the Economy
Habib introduced laws about technology and new businesses. He wrote the Washington Jobs Act of 2014. This law allowed people to invest in small businesses through crowdfunding for the first time in Washington. This made it easier for new businesses to get money.
He also wrote a law that set rules for ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft. This law made sure drivers and passengers had enough insurance.
He also introduced a law to create a special fund for cancer research in Washington State. This was important because federal funding for cancer research was decreasing.
Making Government Open
Habib introduced a law to let people give video comments on new legislative ideas. This was the first bill of its kind in the nation. He said he was inspired by how comedian John Oliver got people involved in net neutrality.
Social Justice
Habib was a main supporter of a law to guarantee paid sick leave for almost all workers in Washington.
He also supported the Washington Voting Rights Act. This law was passed to stop cities and counties from using voting systems that hurt certain racial groups.
As a Senator, Habib pushed for laws to protect the rights of pregnant women at work. He saw this as a basic civil right.
His 2015 bill helped people leaving prison get standard ID cards. This made it easier for them to re-enter society.
He also fought to keep funding for civil legal aid in the state budget. He argued that cutting this funding would hurt families facing problems like foreclosure or domestic violence.
Habib also sponsored the Truth in Evictions Reporting Act. This law helps tenants who were wrongly evicted fix their rental history.
Environment and Transportation
Habib suggested a law that said climate change is real. It also said that human activity is a big reason for it getting worse. This idea made some Republicans upset.
As a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, Habib helped pass a big transportation plan. This plan included finishing the SR 520 bridge replacement. It also funded new light rail and bus routes in the Puget Sound area. He also wrote a law to give judges more flexibility in reducing fines for not paying bridge tolls.
Awards and Recognition
Cyrus Habib is known as the first Iranian-American to be elected to a state office in the United States. He was also the first to serve in a statewide office.
He has received many honors, including being named a Rhodes Scholar, a Truman Scholar, and a Soros Fellow. The World Economic Forum named him a Young Global Leader.
In 2020, the John F. Kennedy Library and The Harvard Institute of Politics gave Habib the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award. This award is for excellent public service.
In 2019, he received the Helen Keller Achievement Award from the American Foundation for the Blind.
From 2019, he was a co-chair of the Democratic Lt. Governor's Association. He also became a member of the Democratic National Committee.
In 2016, the Democratic National Committee chose Habib to be one of 25 members on the party's Platform Committee.
In 2014, The Washington Post named Habib one of the "40 Under 40 Political Rising Stars." That same year, Governing Magazine named him one of "12 State Legislators to Watch" nationally.
In 2013, he was named a NewDEAL Leader.
See also
