Mark Warner

A recognized consensus-builder in Congress, Mark Warner was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2008 after having served as Governor of Virginia. As governor, he worked across the aisle to bring thousands of new jobs and economic prosperity to the Commonwealth. Now as Virginia’s senator ,he is a bipartisan leader promoting innovation and greater economic opportunity for everyone.

No stranger to hard work, Mark put himself through George Washington University through a combination of part-time jobs and student loans to become the first in his family to graduate from college. He later graduated Harvard Law, and then decided to pursue a career in business rather than law. He started two small businesses, but like many entrepreneurs he failed at his first and second attempts.

Undeterred, he successfully invested in the early days of the cell phone industry, eventually co-foundeding the company that became Nextel. His success allowed him to make investments in hundreds of other start-up technology companies that continue to contribute to Virginia’s economy. He has channeled his strong business experience into his work in the Senate by focusing on policies that encourage entrepreneurship and promote fiscal responsibility.

In 2001, Mark was elected Governor of Virginia, where he worked with a Republican-led General Assembly to cut spending and apply business principles to state government. Governor Warner turned a $6 billion budget shortfall into a $1 billion surplus and created nearly 130,000 new private-sector jobs during his four-year term. When he left office, Virginia was consistently recognized as the nation’s Best Managed State, the Best State for Business and the Best State for Educational Opportunities.

Elected to the U.S. Senate during the 2008 recession, Mark Warner has worked across the aisle to strengthen America’s economic recovery and solve problems for Virginia families. Senator Warner has been a leader in addressing government accountability, expanding access to education, and enacting policies that provide everyone with a fair shot at success. Senator Warner is a champion for Virginia’s small businesses, and a strong advocate for Virginia’s military communities.

Senator Warner, his wife Lisa Collis, and their three daughters live in Alexandria, Virginia.