Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: MARK WARNER

Virginia’s Democratic senior senator and the state’s 69th governor, Warner has been best known for his efforts to reach across the aisle in the U.S. Senate and his work as chair (now vice chair) of the Senate Intelligence Committee. However, after President Donald Trump took office in January for a second term, Warner has been outspoken in his criticism of Trump’s economic agenda and his massive cuts to the federal workforce. He also called for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign over classified information mishandling.

The co-founder of Nextel and Capital Cellular, with an estimated net worth of $215 million, Warner got involved in politics in the 1990s, when he managed former Gov. Doug Wilder’s gubernatorial campaign. He later chaired the state Democratic Party but lost his first U.S. Senate race in 1996. In 2001, he was elected Virginia’s governor. He’s serving his third term in the Senate and seeks re-election in 2026.

Warner’s biggest recent successes include passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, legislation he helped craft that put $280 billion toward domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors. Warner serves on the Finance; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Budget; and Rules and Administration committees.

Return to the full list of this category’s recipients.