Mark Warner

Mark R. Warner a Democrat, has represented the state of Virginia in the Senate since 2009. He served as Governor of Virginia from January 12, 2002 – January 14, 2006.

Energy

 * Crackdown on oil speculators who are manipulating the market.
 * Apply pressure to OPEC nations to produce more, while empowering the Justice Department to crackdown on price gouging.
 * Promote telecommuting and optional, flexible work schedules
 * Expanding a tax credit for hybrid and battery technology vehicles
 * Dramatically increase our research and development, to encourage innovative new technologies and alternative sources
 * Off-shore exploration in search of natural gas
 * Working with auto makers to raise fuel efficiency standards
 * Upgrade and expand domestic refining capacity
 * Implement cap-and-trade proposals to responsibly limit carbon emissions

Health Care
Warner supports bringing down the price of prescription drugs and supports affordable, universal health care coverage for Americans.

Iraq War
Warner supports bringing troops home but not under artificial time lines. Warner believes in properly supporting returning troops by providing the money and resources to care for wounded veterans.

Bio
A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Governor Warner graduated from George Washington University in 1977 and from Harvard Law School in 1980. His subsequent business career included helping create more than 70 telecommunications and information technology companies and serving as a founding partner of Columbia Capital Corporation, a Virginia technology venture capital fund. Active in technology and education issues, he started the Virginia High-Tech Partnership in 1997 and has chaired the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges and the Virginia Math and Science Coalition. He was also the founding chair of the Virginia Health Care Foundation. Warner served as chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia from 1993 to 1995, and in 2002 he was inaugurated as Virginia's governor. He was the Appalachian Regional Commission's 2004 states' co-chair.

Possible candidacy in the U.S. presidential election, 2008

 * Warner formed a Political action committee (PAC) "to begin raising money for a possible run at the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 while he finishes his term in Virginia." The PAC "will be a 'federal leadership committee,' a precursor to a formal exploratory committee, which would be needed to officially campaign for office." --Washington Post, June 10, 2005.


 * Warner hired Monica Dixon, Al Gore's former deputy chief of staff "to be the federal PAC's first part-time consultant." Dixon "will help set up meetings between Warner and Democrats across the country as he makes the transition from governor to private citizen." --Washington Post, June 10, 2005.


 * "The budding presidential ambitions of" Governor Warner "were nourished last night with the commodity all national political aspirants need -- a large dose of cash." --Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 7, 2005.


 * Warner's Forward Together PAC "collected more than $2.5 million during its first fundraiser, setting a record for Virginia politics." --Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 7, 2005.

Senate election
On September 13, Mark Warner confirmed early rumors that he would run for Senate. He stated, "I’ve decided the way I can contribute most to getting our country back on the right track is to serve in the United States Senate." Mark Warner's announcement was a major pick up for the Democrats, as he offered a strong possibility of taking a seat that would have been safely Republican had Sen. John Warner sought reelection. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) praised Warner, saying "I have come to know Mark in the last six months and have seen he is an outstanding American leader who will run a great campaign and be a tremendous asset to his state and his country. We’re excited about his campaign and even more excited about him joining us in the Senate."

While it appeared unlikely that Mark Warner would be up against a challenger in the Democratic primary, Republican Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) and former Gov. Jim Gilmore (R) both appeared to be eying the Republican nomination.

Warner won the Democratic nomination to run for the Senate seat that will be left vacant after Sen. John Warner's retirement. . Warner defeated Republican challenger Jim Gilmore in November 2008 general elections.

Campaign contributions
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)
Warner will be assigned committees shortly.

Affiliations

 * Governor's Honorary Advisory Council, Council for America's First Freedom

Twitter
 Mark Warner posts on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MarkWarner/

Latest posts: http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/MarkWarner.rss|title=none| max=3| short See all the members of Congress who Twitter

External resources

 * 2008 Race Tracker page on Virginia's Senate Race
 * Draft Mark Warner, Mark Warner for President website.
 * Forward Together PAC website.
 * Forward Together Blog website.
 * Mark Warner for President Blog Team website.
 * Mark Warner in 2008! Blogspot.
 * See how you compare to Mark Warner

Profiles

 * Official Website of the Governor of Virginia, Mark R. Warner; Biography.
 * Mark R. Warner, Governor of Virginia. City of Richmond. Democrat since 1968, Democratic Party of Virginia.
 * Mark R. Warner in the Wikipedia.
 * Mark R. Warner Profile, Appalachian Regional Commission website (see above).
 * Public Statements and Speeches by Governor Mark R. Warner, Project Vote Smart website.

External articles

 * Craig Timberg and Ann O'Hanlon, "VA Governor's Race: Mark Warner, Gun Control and the NRA," Washington Post (loper.org), July 21, 2001.
 * Press Release: "Governor Mark Warner of Virginia Elected First Vice Chairman of SGA, Southern Governors' Association, January 14, 2003.
 * Michael D. Shear, "Speculation Grows On Presidential Bid For Warner in 2008," Washington Post, March 14, 2004.
 * Michael D. Shear, "Warner Prepares to Take On National Role. Va. Governor Hires Ex-Gore Aide, Forms Federal PAC to Allow Fundraising for Possible U.S. Race," Washington Post, March 11, 2005.
 * Bob Lewis, "Warner among Bilderberg group. He attended meeting but cannot disclose what was discussed," Associated Press (Richmond TimesDispatch), May 18, 2005.
 * Paul Bradely, "Cash infusion for Gov. Warner. He said he's not sure if he'll run for president, but his group raises $2.5 million," Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 7, 2005.
 * David Lerman, "Warner draws hundreds of people, millions of dollars at event. With an eye on the White House, the governor kicks off a fundraising drive," Hampton Roads Daily Press, December 7, 2005.
 * "The Warner Stump," The Hotline, December 11, 2005.
 * Raymond Hernandez, [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/12/national/12warner.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1134392374-5ll721WYcKP0UA8hMoyTmA "After Success as Governor in G.O.P. Stronghold, Democrat Seeks a National Identity," New York Times, December 12, 2005.
 * "Mark Warner in 2008? He's off to a good start," News & Advance (Lynchburg, VA), December 12, 2005.
 * An Assessment of Virginia's Response to Hurricane Isobel Submitted to The Honorable Mark R. Warner, Governor of Virginia, December 2003. Presented by the Hurricane Isobel Response Team. (95-page pdf).