Are John Warner and Mark Warner related? Ex-Virginia senator dies at 94
Former senator John Warner died at the age of 94 on Tuesday night, May 25 at home in Alexandria, Virginia. He served as a Republican US senator for 30 years and had led Virginia's congressional delegation. Warner had served in the Senate from 1979 to 2009 and it was during this time that he became acquainted with Mark Warner, who happens to be a democrat.
Are John Warner and Mark Warner related became one of the top trending searches, but the fact is, they are not. In fact, they were once rivals who squared off in a race in the 90s at which time Mark had even used a bumper sticker that read "Mark, not John". The two however struck a friendship during this time resulting in John going to the extent of endorsing the Democrat during his race against Republican Ed Gillespie in 2014.
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Speaking of why he endorsed his one-time rival, John told Politico that Virginia would benefit from the seniority in the Senate that 59-year-old Mark had accumulated and continued to do so. He was also impressed with Mark's effective advocacy on behalf of the state’s large military presence. While he did not say anything negative about Mark's rival in the race, he explained, "I’ve known him through the years. I haven’t talked to him. I just don’t know him anywhere near as well as I know Mark, nor have I had the close association."
Mark and John continued to become closer after their race as the former won the governorship in 2001. At this time, the two had an effective working relationship. Mark had considered running for the Oval Office in 2008, however, he decided against the same to go after John's seat when the senator had decided to retire.
Speaking about Mark in 2014, John said "I visited with him at his request a couple times last fall,” and added “I strongly urged him at that time to continue on in the office. I feel he’s very well qualified, that he’s done quite well and that he’s accumulated by November a decade of experience serving the state, doing constituent work and learning about the legislative process.”
John, who is known for working well with Democrats also said Mark, "has shown a very courageous ability to cross the aisle and try to work in a bipartisan way on major pieces of legislation.” He had also said, "It’s wise for a state, when you have someone who is doing the job well, to give him a chance to build that seniority and have a voice for the state in the Senate,” adding, “The one thing that’s always going to be a part of Senate life is seniority … It’s always, I repeat always, there. Mark is on his way to achieve that seniority.”