U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) put a final stamp on his political career Monday night, as the three-term senator and former governor held his last campaign rally in Alexandria.
Flanked by Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Northern Virginia Reps. James Walkinshaw (D-11) and Don Beyer (D-8), Warner heavily criticized President Donald Trump’s administration and congressional Republicans, and called on voters to restore moral leadership to the country.
“I am so fired up and ready to go for these last six years,” Warner said, while also asking Virginia voters to choose yes on all three amendments on the ballot. “I want there to be a strong, rational Republican Party that we can debate with, and the best way we can get to a strong, rational Republican Party that we can debate with is this year kick their a–.”
Warner said he would focus his last term in office on getting a universal healthcare package passed in the Senate. He also said that he is worried about the Trump administration interfering with the election.
“I still worry that he and his minions will try to interfere in our elections,” Warner said. “If I get rehired, I will do whatever it takes to move our country to universal health care … You couldn’t create a more broken system.”
Warner acknowledged that former President Joe Biden “screwed up the border” but said the Trump administration’s use of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was the wrong response.
“Joe Biden screwed up the border, but screwing up the border does not mean we’re going to give license to a bunch of guys who have had 47 days of training,” he said. “Why 47 days? Because he’s the 47th president.”
Beyer, a six-term incumbent, is running against Republican Tony Sabio, Libertarian Shelly Arnoldi, and independent candidate Tim Sharman in the 8th Congressional District.
Beyer joked that Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens just endorsed his opponent, Tony Sabio. Stevens, who lost the Michigan Democratic primary for U.S. Senate to candidate Abdul El-Sayed, switched endorsements to El-Sayed’s opponent, former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers.
“I just heard coming in that Haley Stevens endorsed my opponent,” Beyer quipped.
Beyer then said that the most important election ever was in 2024, and that “we blew it.”
“Not casting in blame anywhere, but what we set ourselves up for was the darkest period in American history, perhaps since the Civil War,” Beyer said. “But it all ends tomorrow. Now is the time when we get to rebuild. You all know it’s a lot easier to destroy than to create.”
Walkinshaw said that Northern Virginians have been hit hard by federal layoffs and a flagging economy.
“Everywhere in Virginia, voters are fed up with what’s taking place across the river in Washington, and they are extremely excited about the Democratic candidates we have here in Virginia, led by our Senator Mark Warner,” Walkinshaw said.
Walkinshaw won his seat last fall in a special election to replace the late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) and is running against Republican Arthur Purves, a retired computer programmer and longtime president of the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance, and Green Party candidate Dianne Blais, a longtime volunteer and activist.
Gaskins said that Election Day is more than about sending a message to President Trump.
“He will hear loud and clear that we are tired of the lies, we are tired of the chaos, we are tired of the corruption, and things are about to change,” Gaskins said. “But at the same time, I need him to know, and I need all of us to not forget that tomorrow was never about him. Tomorrow is about us. It is about you and me and everyone in this room, everyone outside of these doors, everyone across this country who continues to feel the pain of rising gas prices and grocery prices and housing and childcare.”
Early voting and what’s on the ballot
More than 1.6 million Virginians voted early in this election cycle, a 67% increase over early ballots cast four years ago for the 2022 midterm elections, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
In Alexandria, 26,499 people voted early in person, and 7,911 mail-in ballots were cast, according to the city’s Office of Voter Registration and Elections.
Virginia ballots will include three constitutional amendments – on reproductive rights, same-sex marriage and voting rights for felons.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Warner, Beyer and Walkinshaw will be joined by Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi and Virginia House Speaker Don Scott (D-88) on election night for a watch party at the Hilton Mark Center (5000 Seminary Road).
MORE: Congressional races, Va. constitutional amendments on the ballot for Alexandrians Tuesday
