Warner, Mark R.

Mark Warner is the senior United States senator from Virginia and Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the chamber's most powerful oversight body for the nation's intelligence agencies. As Vice Chair, he leads the Democratic minority's work on the committee, which reviews classified intelligence operations, conducts oversight of the CIA, NSA, and other intelligence agencies, and addresses critical national security threats. This position gives him access to the country's most sensitive information and significant influence over intelligence policy.

Warner brings deep expertise in technology and business to his intelligence work. Before entering politics, he spent 20 years as a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist, co-founding Columbia Capital and investing in early cellular telephone companies, including the company that became Nextel. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from George Washington University in 1977, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college, and later earned a law degree from Harvard. He served as the 69th Governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006, where he worked across party lines to address budget shortfalls and invest in education.

Since joining the Senate in 2009, Warner has established himself as a bipartisan leader on intelligence and national security matters. He was appointed to the Intelligence Committee in 2011 and has worked with Republicans on oversight of intelligence agencies and protection of critical infrastructure. He has been a key voice on cybersecurity threats, election security, and emerging technology risks. Warner has also authored significant legislation on government transparency and performance, including the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act, which requires standardized federal spending reporting.

Warner is known for his pragmatic, centrist approach to policymaking. He serves on multiple committees including Finance, Banking, Budget, and Rules, where he has focused on economic development, broadband expansion, and support for veterans. He was reelected in 2020 and announced in December 2025 that he would seek a fourth term. With an estimated net worth of over $215 million, he is among the wealthiest members of Congress.