Democrat Mark Warner has won a fourth term in the United States Senate, holding Virginia’s seat for his party in the first Senate result called on midterm election night.
The Associated Press declared Warner the winner at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday 3 November, as polls closed in Virginia, defeating Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa. The Times’ live results coverage likewise described the Democrats holding the Virginia Senate seat in the first results of the night, in what it called an expected outcome.
In a post shared by his headquarters shortly after the result was announced, Warner thanked voters. “Thank you, Virginia! I’m honored and grateful to continue serving as your United States Senator,” the post said, as reported by The Times.
Who won, and who he beat
Warner, the Democratic incumbent, was first elected to the Senate in 2008 after serving as Virginia’s governor from 2002 to 2006. A fourth six-year term will extend a Senate career that began nearly two decades ago, during which he has served alongside fellow Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine since 2012.
His challenger, Bert Mizusawa, is a retired US Army major general whose military service spanned 41 years and included four combat tours, according to Fox 5 DC’s report on the AP call.
What the call does — and does not — settle
The Virginia call was made at poll close, before a full count was complete. Final vote totals and the eventual margin were still to be confirmed as counting continued, and readers should not treat any early partial count as the final result. In tight races elsewhere, final counts can take days or even weeks to confirm.
Nor does holding Virginia by itself decide control of the Senate. Democrats entered election night needing to gain seats to take the chamber, with The Times noting they faced challenging races in battleground states and needed to flip at least four seats. The contests that will determine the Senate majority were still being counted as the Virginia result came in.
That context matters because Virginia was widely expected to stay Democratic. The significance of the night’s first Senate call is therefore less about surprise and more about the starting point: Democrats banked an expected hold while the decisive battleground races remained unresolved.
What to watch next
The next questions are the battleground Senate races, the battle for the House of Representatives, and the final certified Virginia totals once counting is complete. Emadan News will update this story if the certified result changes any material fact reported here.
Frequently asked questions
Did Mark Warner win the Virginia Senate race?
Yes, according to the Associated Press, which called the race for Warner at 7 p.m. ET on 3 November 2026.
Who did Warner defeat?
Republican Bert Mizusawa, a retired US Army major general.
Is this Warner’s fourth Senate term?
Yes. He was first elected to the Senate in 2008 and has now won a fourth six-year term.
Does this result give Democrats control of the Senate?
No, not by itself. Control depends on the outcome of the other Senate races contested on 3 November.
Related coverage: Republicans Flip Guam Governorship in First Decisive Midterm Result; NASA Astronauts Vote in US Midterm Elections From the Space Station
Sources
- The Times, Midterm election results live — https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/midterm-elections-live-results-2026-polls-latest-news-0wc80r5br
- Alexandria Brief, Warner wins a fourth term in the Senate, AP says — https://www.alexandriabrief.com/warner-wins-a-fourth-term-in-the-senate-ap-says/
- Fox 5 DC, Mark Warner wins fourth US Senate term, defeating Republican Bert Mizusawa in Virginia: AP — https://fox5dc.com/news/va-senate-election-mark-warner-fourth-term
- Associated Press election results, Virginia US Senate — https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/?ap_doc=ap%2Fv2%2F20261103%2Fl%2F47917%2FVA%2Fs%2F1782
