Team,

I’ve got a quick somewhat silly story that relates to something very important. I’m sure you remember my tuna melt video I made back when we were all stuck at home during the COVID lockdown. It took people’s minds off the tough times we were going through and got people talking—arguing even…over mayonnaise.

First of all, I’d like to go on the record: That wasn’t too much mayo. Mayo is what makes the sandwich, and I’m not sure why that was so divisive. But just when I thought we’d put this to bed, a reporter from a magazine called me up the other day wanting to talk about it again!

Here’s where I’m going with all this. It got me thinking about other divisive topics that simply don’t need to be… well, divisive.

Take the Supreme Court for example. After reports of multiple blatantly unethical actions by our Justices, why wouldn’t we want the highest court in our country to be held to a basic code of conduct that ensures accountability and transparency? Or mental health services. With almost every family in our country impacted by mental health challenges at some point, what’s wrong with making sure folks everywhere can access the health care resources they need to be supported and safe? Don’t even get me started on the recent debacle over the debt ceiling and whether the United States of America should pay its bills.

But over and over again, some on the right politicize these issues, all for their party’s gain. This is what we’re dealing with right now in Washington. It’s a reminder that elections have consequences, and when Democrats don’t stick together and show up at the ballot box, we can have some real problems in the years that follow.

Here’s where I’m at. I’m always going to be looking for opportunities to make a bipartisan deal—pushing past the faux division and partisanship to get things done for Virginians and our country. It’s in my DNA, from my time in business to the Governor’s mansion, and now in the Senate. But there are also some times where Democrats have to just stand firm and not let partisanship-gone-wild create a divisive issue that tears our country apart. The debt ceiling is about as clear an example of this as you can get.

When Democrats took back the Senate and elected Joe Biden in 2020, we got the American people on board by promising to restore some normalcy to the country. We did a pretty darn good job of keeping that promise by finding issues that most people could agree on—getting our economy back on track after the COVID lockdowns, creating high-tech jobs, and dealing with inflation and climate change. Heading into the elections this year and next, this is the moment where we have to band together and recommit to that mission of electing Democrats up and down the ballot who will focus on these kinds of real results, not division and partisan gain.

That’s why I’m asking for your help today. Can you chip in just $5 today to support my work in the Senate and on the campaign trail?

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will be processed immediately:

EXPRESS DONATE $5

EXPRESS DONATE $10

EXPRESS DONATE $25

EXPRESS DONATE $50

EXPRESS DONATE $100

DONATE OTHER

It’s pretty simple, folks. There are some things that just don’t need to be divisive. With your help we can make sure we have leaders in Washington who get this, too.

Your resident mayo advocate,

Mark Warner

Contribute