Sen. Mark Warner cited ongoing concerns regarding the growing affordability crisis in the U.S. amid the growth of artificial intelligence and took a shot at President Donald Trump in his reelection campaign announcement on Tuesday.
“Grocery and energy prices keep climbing, rent is out of control and it feels like you need a second mortgage just to send your kid to daycare. Meanwhile, the folks at the top are doing better than ever,” Warner said in his campaign announcement video. “The crowd running Washington right now hasn’t got a damn idea what to do about it. The president doesn’t even seem to care.”
Warner, a businessman who started a telecommunications business, was worth about $242 million, according to an April Nasdaq article. He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008. Prior to that, he served as Virginia’s governor from 2002 to 2006. Warner currently serves as vice chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and sits on the Senate finance; banking, house and urban affairs; budget; and rules and administration committees.
Four Republicans have announced their intention to challenge the incumbent or have filed the paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to do so, setting up a likely primary race.
Kim Farington of Alexandria filed her campaign paperwork with the FEC in November 2024. Virginia state senator and Army veteran Bryce Reeves of Spotsylvania County launched his campaign in September. David Williams, a Navy and Marine Corps veteran and former U.S. State Department and CIA official from Williamsburg, announced his campaign in November. Aldous Mina of Norfolk filed his paperwork with the FEC in November.