Sen. Mark Warner Announces Daughter Madison Warner Dies at 36 After Juvenile Diabetes Battle

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia announced on Monday that his daughter, Madison Warner, has died at 36 after a “decades-long battle with juvenile diabetes and other health issues.”

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In a statement shared on social media, Warner and his wife, Lisa Collis, said, “We are heartbroken beyond words by the passing of our beloved daughter, Madison,” and added that “She filled our lives with love and laughter, and her absence leaves an immeasurable void.”

CBS News

The couple said they were “grateful for the loving support of friends and family during this difficult time” and asked for privacy as they “navigate this profound loss.”

CBS News reported that Warner has been in the Senate since 2009, after serving as governor of Virginia, and that he and his wife live in Alexandria, Virginia.

NBC News described Madison Warner as the adult daughter of Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and said her death followed a “decades-long battle with juvenile diabetes and other health issues,” according to the lawmaker’s office.

The New York Post similarly quoted Warner’s statement, saying, “We are heartbroken beyond words by the passing of our beloved daughter, Madison, 36, after a decades-long battle with juvenile diabetes and other health issues.”

Multiple outlets tied Madison Warner’s death to the family’s long-running public advocacy on diabetes.

CBS News said Warner has been an advocate for diabetes research in the Senate, “often citing his own family’s experience having a daughter with Type 1 diabetes,” and it said he has spoken out about making insulin more affordable and sponsored legislation to increase access to diabetes care more broadly.

Fox News

The Hindustan Times reported that Warner referenced in 2013 that “one of his daughters had Type 1 diabetes,” pointing to a post on Senator Warner’s website about the Special Diabetes Program.

That Hindustan Times account said the post notes, “One of Senator Warner’s three daughters also suffers from Type 1 diabetes, and he continues to fight for funding and support for diabetes research side by side with other families affected by diabetes.”

People magazine described Warner as having invoked Madison’s health issues “several times throughout the years during congressional debates over health care,” and it cited his July 2019 sharing of a Buzzfeed article titled “Turning 26 Is A Potential Death Sentence For People With Type 1 Diabetes In America.”

In that People account, Warner wrote, “As the father of a daughter with Juvenile Diabetes, this just breaks my heart,” and added, “Congress and the pharmaceutical companies need to step up to make sure insulin is affordable and accessible for those who need it.”

After Warner’s announcement, condolences came from across the political spectrum, with multiple outlets quoting specific messages.

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NBC News reported that Vice President JD Vance posted on X, “Our prayers are with Sen. Warner, his daughter, and their whole family,” and it added, “What a terrible loss at such a young age. May God comfort them.”

NBC News also quoted U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., saying, “Mark, I’m praying for you and your family as you grieve this unimaginable loss,” and it included Warnock’s line, “Even in this grief, God is near to the brokenhearted, holding you in ways we cannot always see or feel right now.”

Fox News listed additional reactions, including Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., writing, “Our deepest condolences,” and “We're keeping your family in our prayers.”

Fox News also quoted Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, saying, “Please join me in praying for Senator Mark Warner and his family,” and it included Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., writing, “We're praying for @MarkWarner,” along with Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, saying, “I am incredibly sorry for your loss,” and “Keeping you and your family in my prayers.”

Fox News further quoted Democratic Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger saying, “the entire Virginia delegation stands with Mark and Lisa during this period of profound grief.”

Alongside the personal news, outlets placed Madison Warner’s death within Warner’s political timeline.

NBC News said Warner is “in the midst of a re-election campaign, seeking the Democrat's fourth term in office representing Old Dominion,” and it described that he is seeking his fourth term.

KATU

CBS News said Warner “has been in the Senate since 2009,” and it noted his prior service as governor of Virginia.

The New York Post similarly said Warner is up for reelection “this year” and described him as serving in the Senate since 2009.

People magazine added that Warner was 71 and had served as chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party from 1993 to 1995, before an unsuccessful run for Senate in 1996, and it said he was elected governor in 2002 and served until 2006.

The KATU report, meanwhile, said the death announcement came on Monday, April 20, and it quoted Warner’s statement about Madison’s “decades-long” battle with juvenile diabetes and other health issues.

Even when repeating the same core announcement, outlets differed in emphasis and the surrounding details they chose to include.

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KATU

CBS News centered the announcement with a Washington dateline and quoted the Warner statement, saying, “We are heartbroken beyond words by the passing of our beloved daughter, Madison,” and it described Madison’s age as 36.

NBC News

NBC News also quoted the statement but added political context by reporting that Warner is seeking “the Democrat's fourth term in office representing Old Dominion,” and it included a “developing story” note.

Fox News focused heavily on the reaction trail, quoting multiple lawmakers by name and including messages from Vice President JD Vance, Rep. Nancy Mace, Sen. Mike Lee, Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. August Pfluger, and Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

People magazine combined the announcement with Warner’s career timeline, stating he served as chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party from 1993 to 1995 and that he was elected governor in 2002, then returning to the Senate in 2008 and winning reelection in 2014 and 2020.

The New York Post, by contrast, highlighted Madison as “the eldest of Warner’s three daughters” and said it was “unclear whether Warner will take time away from his Senate duties to be with his family.”

The sources also described what the family and political figures asked for next, centering privacy and continued public engagement.

Warner and Lisa Collis repeatedly asked for privacy, with the statement saying, “ask for privacy as we navigate this profound loss,” and CBS News and NBC News both included that line in their reporting.

Fox News similarly quoted the statement’s privacy request, saying, “ask for privacy as we navigate this profound loss,” and it framed the announcement as coming from Warner and his wife in a joint statement.

NBC News said condolences began “shortly after the announcement,” and it quoted Vice President JD Vance and Sen. Raphael Warnock as part of that immediate response.

People magazine added that Warner has invoked Madison’s health issues during congressional debates over health care, and it cited his July 2019 remarks about insulin affordability and accessibility, including “Congress and the pharmaceutical companies need to step up to make sure insulin is affordable and accessible for those who need it.”

Taken together, the immediate next step described in the sources is privacy for the Warner family, while Warner’s public role and diabetes advocacy remain part of the broader context surrounding the announcement.