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Mark Warner

Democratic · U.S. Senate, Virginia · Incumbent since 2009

2026 General Election

Mark Warner has represented Virginia in the U.S. Senate since 2009. A former technology entrepreneur and Governor of Virginia, he chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and has focused on cybersecurity, national security, and technology policy.

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Views on the Issues

Sen. Warner’s stated positions alongside Democratic and Republican party platforms. Sources cited below each position. Polis does not editorialize.

Economy & Taxes

Democratic Platform

Democrats support progressive taxation, with higher rates on top earners and corporations to fund public investment. The party favors raising the minimum wage, strengthening unions, and expanding worker protections. Democrats generally support government investment in infrastructure, education, and social programs as drivers of broad economic growth.

Mark Warner

Senator Warner, a former entrepreneur and venture capitalist, supports policies that promote innovation, workforce development, and broad economic access. He has backed bipartisan infrastructure investment and semiconductor manufacturing legislation, and takes a moderate Democratic approach to fiscal policy that combines investment with attention to deficit management.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans favor lower taxes across income levels, with particular emphasis on cutting corporate and capital gains taxes to stimulate investment and job creation. The party supports deregulation, reduced government spending, and free market solutions over federal programs as the primary engine of prosperity.
Healthcare

Democratic Platform

Democrats support expanding access to affordable healthcare, including protecting the Affordable Care Act and moving toward a public option or expanded Medicare coverage. The party broadly favors government negotiation of prescription drug prices and opposes removing protections for pre-existing conditions.

Mark Warner

Senator Warner supports the Affordable Care Act and has backed legislation to lower prescription drug prices, including provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act allowing Medicare to negotiate drug costs. He supports expanding Medicaid and protecting coverage for pre-existing conditions.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans have generally sought to repeal or significantly reform the Affordable Care Act, favoring market-based solutions. The party supports expanding health savings accounts, increasing competition among insurers across state lines, and reducing federal mandates on coverage requirements.
Immigration

Democratic Platform

Democrats generally support pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including DACA recipients, and favor comprehensive immigration reform. The party supports increased resources for legal immigration processing and a humanitarian approach to asylum seekers at the border.

Mark Warner

Senator Warner supports comprehensive immigration reform that combines robust border security with a pathway to legal status for long-term undocumented residents, including DACA recipients. He has highlighted the role of immigrant workers in Virginia's technology and agriculture industries.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans prioritize border security and strict enforcement of existing immigration law. The party broadly supports completing physical border barriers, ending policies they view as incentivizing illegal entry, and reforming legal immigration to favor applicants with marketable skills.
Education

Democratic Platform

Democrats favor robust federal investment in public K-12 education and higher education, along with policies to reduce or eliminate student loan debt. The party generally opposes using public funds for private school vouchers and supports universal pre-K and affordable childcare.

Mark Warner

Senator Warner supports federal investment in education at all levels, with particular emphasis on workforce training programs that connect workers to jobs in growing industries. He has backed community college funding and apprenticeship programs as complements to four-year degree pathways.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans support school choice, including voucher programs for private and religious schools, and local control over curriculum decisions. The party generally opposes federal education mandates and broadly supports parental rights in schooling. Many Republicans oppose student loan forgiveness as unfair to borrowers who repaid their loans.
Gun Policy

Democratic Platform

Democrats broadly support stricter gun safety measures, including universal background checks, red flag laws, and restrictions on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. The party frames these regulations as consistent with the Second Amendment and necessary to reduce mass shootings.

Mark Warner

Senator Warner supports expanded background checks and red flag legislation to reduce gun violence. He voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (2022) and has backed additional gun safety measures, citing the toll of gun violence on Virginia communities.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans strongly defend Second Amendment rights and generally oppose new gun control legislation, arguing that existing laws should be enforced more effectively. The party emphasizes mental health intervention, the right to self-defense, and opposes what they view as infringement on law-abiding gun owners.
Climate & Energy

Democratic Platform

Democrats view climate change as an urgent crisis requiring immediate government action. The party supports transitioning to clean energy through federal investment and regulation, reducing carbon emissions across the economy, and meeting international climate commitments. Democrats generally oppose expanding fossil fuel development on public lands.

Mark Warner

Senator Warner supported the Inflation Reduction Act's climate and clean energy provisions and views the transition to clean energy as an economic opportunity for Virginia. He has backed offshore wind development off the Virginia coast and supports federal investments in clean energy technology and manufacturing.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans emphasize American energy independence through domestic production of oil, gas, and coal alongside renewable development. Many in the party are skeptical of aggressive climate regulations they argue harm economic growth and jobs. Republicans generally prefer market-based energy solutions over government mandates and oppose restrictions that raise energy costs for families.
Foreign Policy

Democratic Platform

Democrats generally support a multilateral approach to foreign policy, emphasizing alliances, international institutions, and diplomacy as the first line of engagement. The party broadly supports maintaining NATO commitments, providing aid to democratic allies, and engaging international bodies to address shared challenges.

Mark Warner

Senator Warner, as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has been among the most active members of Congress on national security and foreign policy. He has been a consistent advocate for countering Russian and Chinese threats, supporting Ukraine, maintaining NATO, and improving U.S. cybersecurity posture against foreign adversaries.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans emphasize American sovereignty, a strong military as a deterrent, and bilateral relationships over multilateral institutions. The party broadly supports robust defense spending and is skeptical of international agreements they view as constraining American action or requiring open-ended foreign commitments.
Social Security

Democratic Platform

Democrats oppose cuts to Social Security or Medicare benefits and support expanding both programs. The party generally favors raising the Social Security payroll tax cap on high earners to ensure long-term solvency and opposes any form of privatization.

Mark Warner

Senator Warner opposes benefit cuts to Social Security and Medicare and has supported legislation to protect and strengthen both programs. He has also engaged seriously on federal deficit and debt questions, arguing that fiscal responsibility requires looking at both revenue and spending in a balanced way.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans support reforming Social Security and Medicare to ensure long-term fiscal solvency, which some in the party argue requires adjusting benefits or eligibility ages. The party opposes tax increases to fund the programs and some members have supported personal investment account options.
Criminal Justice

Democratic Platform

Democrats broadly support criminal justice reform, including reducing mandatory minimum sentences, addressing racial disparities in policing and incarceration, and investing in community-based alternatives. The party generally supports police accountability measures and evidence-based approaches to reducing recidivism.

Mark Warner

Senator Warner supports criminal justice reform including reducing mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenses and addressing racial disparities in the system. He backed the First Step Act and has supported investments in reentry programming and alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans emphasize law and order, strong support for law enforcement, and tough penalties for crime. The party generally opposes reducing mandatory minimum sentences for violent offenses and supports prosecutors pursuing strong sentences. Republicans broadly oppose policies they view as undermining police authority or creating leniency for criminals.

About these profiles. Party platform positions are drawn from the 2024 Democratic and Republican national platforms. Candidate positions are sourced from official statements, voting records, and campaign websites. Polis does not editorialize or endorse any candidate.