Mark Warner vows to serve Virginia after daughter passes aged 36

• Mark Warner returns to the Senate following his daughter Madison’s death.
• Madison Warner passed away at 36 after battling juvenile diabetes.
• Senator pledges to continue legislative work in his daughter’s honour.
  

Senator Mark Warner has announced his return to the Senate this week following the tragic passing of his eldest daughter, Madison.

The Virginia Democrat and his wife, Lisa Collis, shared the news of their daughter’s death on 20 April, noting that the 36-year-old had endured a long-term battle with juvenile diabetes and other health complications.

In a joint statement, the couple expressed that Madison "filled our lives with love and laughter," leaving an immeasurable void in their hearts.

In an emotional social media update on Monday, the 71-year-old senator reflected on his daughter’s legacy and her influence on his political career.

He described Madison as a deeply empathetic individual who, even on the day she passed, was offering suggestions on how he could better use his platform.

"She used to say to me: ‘Dad, you have the power – you have to use it,’" Warner recalled. He noted that if any solace could be found, it was in the "enormous privilege" of serving Virginians and the responsibility to continue working for a more just world in her name.

Warner’s career has often been shaped by his family’s health struggles; in 2019, he vocally campaigned for affordable insulin and protected coverage for those with preexisting conditions.

Support for the senator has been widespread and bipartisan. Vice President JD Vance, a former Senate colleague, was among those offering tributes, describing the event as a "terrible loss at such a young age." Warner previously served as the Governor of Virginia before entering the Senate.