Mark Warner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Warner
Warner in 2024
Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Marco Rubio
In office January 3, 2017 – February 3, 2021
Preceded by	Dianne Feinstein
Succeeded by	Marco Rubio
Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee
In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Marco Rubio (acting)
Succeeded by	Tom Cotton
Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2017 Serving with Elizabeth Warren
Leader	Chuck Schumer
Preceded by	Chuck Schumer
United States Senator from Virginia
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2009 Serving with Tim Kaine
Preceded by	John Warner
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office July 20, 2004 – July 18, 2005
Preceded by	Dirk Kempthorne
Succeeded by	Mike Huckabee
69th Governor of Virginia
In office January 12, 2002 – January 14, 2006
Lieutenant	Tim Kaine
Preceded by	Jim Gilmore
Succeeded by	Tim Kaine
Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia
In office May 4, 1993 – September 18, 1995
Preceded by	Paul Goldman
Succeeded by	Suzie Wrenn
Personal details
Born	Mark Robert Warner (1954-12-15) December 15, 1954 (age 70) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Lisa Collis ​ (m. 1989)​
Children	3
Education	George Washington University (BA) Harvard University (JD)
Signature

Mark Robert Warner (born December 15, 1954) is an American politician and businessman. He is currently a U.S. Senator for Virginia, a job he has held since 2009. Before becoming a senator, Warner was the 69th Governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Warner is a very important person in the Senate. He is the Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. He also leads the Senate Intelligence Committee, which deals with important national security information.

Before he started his political career, Warner worked in the telecommunications industry. He helped start companies that focused on new technologies. He is known for being one of the wealthiest members of the U.S. Congress.

Early Life and Education

Mark Warner was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. His parents were Marjorie and Robert F. Warner. He has a younger sister named Lisa. He grew up in Illinois and then in Vernon, Connecticut. He went to Rockville High School.

Warner says his interest in politics started with his eighth-grade social studies teacher, Jim Tyler. This teacher inspired him to work for social change in 1968. Mark was the class president for three years in high school.

College and Early Work

Warner was the first person in his family to go to college. He graduated from George Washington University (GWU) in 1977. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He was a top student, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

While at GWU, he worked on Capitol Hill to help pay for his schooling. He rode his bike to the office of U.S. Senator Abraham Ribicoff. Later, he worked for then-Representative Chris Dodd. He even managed Dodd's campaign for the Senate. Warner once told his father, "I'll see the White House when I'm president."

After GWU, Warner went to Harvard Law School. He earned his law degree in 1980. He also coached the law school's first women's basketball team! After law school, he worked to raise money for the Democratic Party. He has never worked as a lawyer.

Starting His Career

Before politics, Mark Warner tried to start two businesses that didn't quite work out. Then, he became a general contractor for cellular businesses. He founded Columbia Capital, a company that invests in new technology businesses. He helped start or was an early investor in many tech companies, including Nextel. He also co-founded Capital Cellular Corporation. Through these ventures, he built up a large amount of wealth.

Getting Involved in Virginia Politics

Warner became active in public efforts in Virginia. He focused on areas like health care, transportation, and education. He helped manage Douglas Wilder's successful campaign for governor in 1989. He also served as the leader of the state Democratic Party from 1993 to 1995. In the early 1990s, Warner was also part of the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board.

First Run for U.S. Senate

In 1996, Mark Warner ran for the U.S. Senate for the first time. He ran against the person who already held the seat, Republican John Warner. They had the same last name but were not related! Mark Warner did very well in rural areas of Virginia. The election was much closer than many people expected. He lost to the incumbent, John Warner, by a vote of 52% to 47%.

Governor of Virginia

Becoming Governor

Then-Gov. Mark Warner as the state commander in chief of the Virginia Army National Guard and Virginia Air National Guard

In 2001, Mark Warner ran for governor of Virginia. He ran as a moderate Democrat. He had spent years building support in rural parts of Virginia. His opponents were Republican Mark Earley and Libertarian William B. Redpath. Warner won the election with 52.16% of the votes. He had a lot more money for his campaign than his opponents.

His Time as Governor

When Warner became governor in 2002, Virginia had a special "rainy day fund" of $900 million. This fund was left by the previous governor, Jim Gilmore. Warner wanted to use this money wisely.

He also worked to change the state's tax code. He lowered some taxes, like on food and income. But he increased other taxes, like sales and cigarette taxes. These changes brought in about $1.5 billion more each year for the state. Warner said this extra money helped Virginia keep its high credit rating. It also allowed the state to make its biggest investment ever in K-12 education.

Warner also played a role in college sports. In 2003, he used his power as governor to influence the Atlantic Coast Conference. He wanted them to add Virginia Tech to their group, and he succeeded!

Warner speaking in Philadelphia, May 2006

Warner was very popular as governor. His popularity helped Democrats win more seats in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2003 and 2005. He led the National Governors Association in 2004-2005. He also led a national effort to improve high schools.

In 2005, a study called Virginia "the best managed state in the nation." This was a big achievement for Warner.

End of His Term

The Virginia Constitution does not allow a governor to serve two terms in a row. So, Warner could not run for reelection in 2005. He supported Lieutenant Governor Tim Kaine to be the next governor. Kaine won the election. Many people saw Kaine's victory as a sign of Warner's strong influence in Virginia politics.

Warner also made some important decisions about legal cases. He changed a death sentence to life in prison for one person, Robin Lovitt. This was because some evidence in the case might have been destroyed. He said that the state's actions were wrong when someone's life was on the line. He also arranged for DNA tests in another old case, which confirmed the person's guilt.

When Warner left office, his approval ratings were very high, around 71%.

U.S. Senate

Running for Senate

Warner accepts the nomination as the Democratic candidate for the Senate

Many people thought Mark Warner would run for president in 2008. But in October 2006, he announced he would not run. He said he wanted to focus on his family.

Then, in September 2007, Warner announced he would run for the U.S. Senate. He was running for the seat that John Warner (no relation) was leaving. Mark Warner quickly gained support from many Democrats. He was far ahead of his Republican opponent, Jim Gilmore, who was also a former Virginia governor.

Warner delivers the keynote address during the second day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

Warner gave a very important speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. In the November election, Warner won by a large margin. He received 65% of the votes, while Gilmore received 34%. This was a very big win for a Senate race in Virginia. After his victory, Virginia had two Democratic U.S. Senators for the first time in many years.

Re-elections

• 2014 Election: In 2014, Warner ran for reelection against Ed Gillespie. This election was much closer than expected. Warner won by only about 17,000 votes.
• 2020 Election: In 2020, Warner ran against Daniel Gade. He won this election with 56% of the votes.

His Work in the Senate

When Mark Warner joined the U.S. Senate in 2009, he was appointed to important committees. These included the Banking, Budget, and Commerce committees. In 2011, he also joined the Senate Intelligence Committee, which deals with national security.

In 2009, Warner voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This was a bill to help the economy. He also worked to make sure the government could track how this money was being spent.

In 2012, Warner decided to stay in the Senate instead of running for governor again. He said he wanted to focus on finding solutions to the country's financial problems.

President Barack Obama and Tim Kaine listen to Senator Warner, aboard Air Force One, July 13, 2012

On January 3, 2013, Warner became the senior senator from Virginia. This happened when Jim Webb left the Senate and Tim Kaine took his place.

Warner is known for working with both Democrats and Republicans. He tries to find common ground and make compromises in the Senate. He has been ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate. This means he works well with people from different political parties.

What Mark Warner Cares About

Health Care

Warner voted for the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. He helped make sure the bill had enough votes to pass. He also worked on ideas to help control health care costs.

In 2019, Warner helped introduce a bill called the American Miners Act. This bill aimed to help retired coal miners get their health care and pension benefits. He signed letters urging Congress to pass this important legislation.

Finance

Warner has worked to make sure big banks are held accountable. He worked with a Republican senator to write a part of the Dodd-Frank Act. This law aims to stop taxpayers from having to bail out failing Wall Street firms.

In 2018, Warner supported a bill that would make some banking rules less strict. He believed it would help smaller banks lend money more easily.

Foreign Affairs and National Security

Senator Warner before greeting the new King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 27, 2015

Warner has spoken about different international issues. He has criticized some actions by Saudi Arabia in Yemen. He also voted to support an arms deal with Saudi Arabia.

He has also spoken about Israel and Palestine. In 2016, he signed a letter asking President Obama to veto resolutions against Israel. In 2017, he disagreed with President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Warner voted for sanctions against Iran, Russia, and North Korea in 2017. He also signed a letter in 2019 urging President Trump to continue foreign aid to Central American countries. The senators believed this aid helps reduce migration to the U.S. by improving conditions in those countries.

Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence

Warner is a key member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He voted for Gina Haspel to become the CIA director in 2018. He also warned against revealing the identity of an FBI operative in 2018.

Warner welcomed the arrest of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. He said Assange was "a dedicated accomplice in efforts to undermine American security."

Telecommunications and Infrastructure Security

In 2018, Warner said that the Chinese company Huawei was a threat to U.S. national security. He has worked on bills to prevent Huawei from doing business in the U.S. without Congress's approval.

In 2019, he signed a letter urging government officials to protect the country's electricity infrastructure. In 2023, he helped introduce the RESTRICT Act. This bill aims to give the government more control over technology transactions that could be a risk to national security.

Defense

Mark Warner's freshman portrait, 2009

In 2011, Warner voted to extend the USA PATRIOT Act. He also worked to fix problems at Arlington National Cemetery. He pushed the Navy to improve housing for military families in Hampton Roads.

He also worked to help federal workers get their retirement benefits faster. He pushed the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer more help for female veterans with PTSD. For his support of military families, Warner received the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award.

Economy

Warner spent a lot of time working with a bipartisan group in the Senate called the "Gang of Six." They tried to create a plan to deal with the U.S. debt and budget problems. Although they didn't pass a law, they agreed on ideas like cutting spending and reforming tax and entitlement programs.

Gun Laws

In 2013, Warner voted to expand background checks for gun purchases. He also voted against a ban on assault weapons at that time. However, in 2018, he changed his position and has supported similar bans since then.

In 2017, he said he strongly supports Second Amendment rights. He also said he would advocate for responsible gun ownership for hunting, recreation, and self-defense. In 2019, he helped introduce a bill to require background checks for all firearm sales.

LGBT Issues

Mark Warner supports same-sex marriage. He announced his support in 2013. In 2015, he co-sponsored the Equality Act. This bill aims to prevent discrimination in housing, education, and the workplace for LGBT individuals.

Transparency

Warner has worked to make government spending more transparent. He helped pass the 2010 Government Performance and Results Act. This law requires federal agencies to set goals and review their performance.

In 2013, he introduced the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA). This law requires federal spending information to be posted on a single website. This helps citizens track spending and helps the government find waste or fraud. The bill passed the Senate and the House in 2014.

Minimum Wage

In 2014, the Senate discussed raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. Warner said he was open to discussing the details with Republicans. He believed any increase should be done "in a responsible way."

Immigration

In 2025, Warner was one of the Democratic senators who voted for the final passage of the Laken Riley Act in the Senate.

Electoral History

Personal Life

Mark Warner is married to Lisa Collis. They got married in 1989. They have three daughters together. Lisa Collis was the first Virginia first lady to use her own birth name.

Warner also enjoys farming and making wine at his Rappahannock Bend farm. He grows grapes there for a vineyard, and the wine is sometimes used for charity auctions.

He is not related to John Warner, the senator he ran against and later replaced.

Honorary Degrees

Mark Warner has received several special degrees from universities. These are called honorary degrees and are given to people who have achieved great things.

Honorary degrees

Location	Date	School	Degree
Virginia	2002	College of William and Mary	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
District of Columbia	2003	George Washington University	Doctor of Public Service (DPS)
North Carolina	May 15, 2006	Wake Forest University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Virginia	2007	Lord Fairfax Community College	Associate of Humane Letters
Virginia	May 20, 2007	Eastern Virginia Medical School	Doctorate
Virginia	May 25, 2013	George Mason University	Doctorate
Virginia	May 19, 2018	Virginia State University	Doctorate
Virginia	May 18, 2024	Virginia Wesleyan University	Doctor of Laws

Images for kids

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  Mark Warner's signature

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See also

• List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards