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Mark Warner is running to win the open seat being vacated by Republican Senator John Warner (no relation). A highly popular former governor, Warner's entrance into the Virginia race gives Democrats an excellent chance of holding both of the states' Senate seats for the first time in decades. Several recent polls show the Democratic Warner leading all of his potential Republican opponents. Mark Warner attended George Washington University and became the first person in his family to graduate from college. After graduating from Harvard Law School, he served as a Senate staff member to Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT). Later, as managing director of Columbia Capital Corporation, he helped found or was an early investor in a number of technology companies, including Nextel and Capital Cellular Corporation. Warner's early involvement in Virginia politics included managing Douglas Wilder's successful 1989 gubernatorial campaign and serving as chairman of the state Democratic Party. His first bid for public office was his 1996 attempt to unseat Senator John Warner in a "Warner vs. Warner" election. While his challenge was ultimately unsuccessful, Mark Warner performed strongly in the state's rural areas, making the contest much closer than many pundits had predicted. In his 2001 campaign to be governor, Mark Warner built on his rural appeal to defeat then-State Attorney General Mark Earley. During his term as governor, Warner demonstrated fiscal discipline and an ability to forge bipartisan solutions to the commonwealth's problems. By bringing together Democratic and Republican legislators along with the business community, he was able to reform the tax code to create additional revenues and preserve the state's AAA bond rating. By turning a Republican-made deficit into a surplus, Warner was able to make the single largest investment in K-12 education in Virginia history. In 2005, an analysis by the Pew Charitable Trust and Governing magazine showed Virginia to be the best managed state in the nation. At the end of his term, Warner left office with an approval rating of 75% — one of the highest ever recorded. His popularity throughout his term helped Democrats gain seats in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2003 and 2005, reducing the majorities built up by Republicans in the 1990s. In 2006, the term-limited Warner worked hard and successfully to elect his Democratic successor, Tim Kaine. As a Southern Democratic governor, Mark Warner was pragmatic and moderate in his governing style but strongly supportive of many progressive issues. He has shown impressive commitment to a woman's right to choose, opposes racial profiling and supports including sexual orientation under hate crimes laws. He has demonstrated his commitment to quality public education. And he believes in a sensible and sustainable energy policy that will use American innovation and ingenuity to create jobs while combating global warming. Mark Warner is married to Lisa Collis and has three daughters — Madison, Gillian and Eliza. |
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