In a politically purple state, longtime senator Mark Warner is hoping his bipartisan track record will help him ward off republican and independent challengers to win a third term representing Virginia in the U.S. Senate.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of campaigns have had to pivot to more online outreach along with social distancing measures and lower capacity when attending events around the state. As the incumbent candidate, Warner has been involved in recent and forthcoming relief packages from Congress and also served as a member of President Donald Trump’s economic reopening panel. With the Senate in recess in late August, Warner dropped by Charlottesville for a series of socially-distant campaign events where Charlottesville Tomorrow was in attendance and also received a 20 minute one-on-one interview.
“It’s been the honor of my lifetime to be governor and now senator in Virginia,” Warner said. “I’m really proud of the results I’ve produced for Virginia.”
He listed his efforts to bolster funding for national parks and work to protect people with preexisting conditions in the Affordable Care Act. Throughout Warner’s tenure in Congress, he often joined or cosponsored legislation with republican senators and currently serves as vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
“I think I’ve built a record of both delivery for the people of Virginia but still the ability to work with people on both sides of the aisle,” he said of his bipartisan work.
“Even the fact that I’m not a fan of Donald Trump, the fact that he picked me to be on his economic reopening panel shows that I’ve got respect from both sides of the aisle. In a time when so many people are so partisan, I think having that ability is really important. If the people of Virginia hire me again, I commit to even do more.”