Kamyar Cyrus Habib SJ (born August 22, 1981) is an American Jesuit, lawyer, and politician who served as both a state legislator from 2013 to 2017 and then as the 16th lieutenant governor of Washington from 2017 to 2021.

from Columbia University summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, having double majored in English and Comparative Literature and Middle Eastern Studies as a student of Edward Said and Jacques Derrida.

[11] While an undergraduate, Habib had a collection of his photography published by Princeton Architectural Press, and also worked in the New York City office of Senator Hillary Clinton.

He was a member of the university's Grand Strategy program, led by John Lewis Gaddis, Charles Hill, and Paul Kennedy, and also advocated for the redesign of U.S. currency to allow the blind to distinguish denominations.

[19] In 2012, Habib won a seat in the Washington House of Representatives, defeating two-term Redmond City Councilman Hank Myers and gaining 61% of the vote.

[24] Shortly before the 2016 legislative session, Habib announced his campaign for the independently elected office of Lieutenant Governor of Washington, challenging embattled twenty-year incumbent Brad Owen.

Habib went on to win the primary election against ten other candidates, including long-time State Senators Karen Fraser and Steve Hobbs.

Another senior legislator, Speaker pro tem of the Washington House of Representatives Jim Moeller was also a candidate but ultimately discontinued his campaign.

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....

[35] The same year, he initiated Complete Washington, a program focused on creating new high-demand degree pathways tailored to the needs of working adults.

[39][40] Habib led a number of international trips on behalf of the state aimed at improving market access for Washington-based companies and encouraging foreign investment.

In 2018, he attacked the idea that "college isn't for everyone", calling it an "elitist" view, and said that "A failure to expand access to higher education will widen the gap between the fortunate few and the disenfranchised many.

[44] He authored legislation that created a statewide framework for vehicle for hire companies such as Uber and Lyft, and provided insurance minimums for drivers, passengers, and the public.

Habib said that he was inspired by John Oliver's success in engaging the public on the topic of net neutrality, and the subsequent use of remote testimony submitted online to the Federal Communications Commission by his viewers.

[53] Habib's 2015 bill to provide standard-issue ID cards to help exiting prison inmates with reentry into society gained widespread and bipartisan support.

He argued that cuts in such funding will most severely impact families facing foreclosure, domestic violence, predatory lending, and those needing help accessing veteran and disability benefits.

[56] Habib angered some Republicans when he proposed legislative language acknowledging that climate change is real and that human activity is a significant factor in its acceleration.

[57] As a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, Habib played a critical role in the passage of a landmark transportation investment package that completed the SR 520 bridge replacement and the North Spokane Corridor, funded extensions of SR 167 and 509, added new lanes to I-405, and authorized the next generation of light rail and bus rapid transit in the central Puget Sound region.