Why Virginia senators Kaine and Warner were split on vote to end shutdown

For more than two decades, Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner seemingly found little to disagree about during their parallel rise through the ranks of Virginia politics.

The two Democrats, who served as back-to-back governors in Richmond during the 2000s and then came to Capitol Hill a few years later, often speak in a unified voice on both regional and national matters. They have taken united stances on such matters as the Trump administration’s tariffs and federal worker job cuts. Subscribe for unlimited access to The Post You can cancel anytime. Subscribe

But this week, the allies split on a major tactical decision: whether to work with Republicans to end the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history.

In a development that surprised and angered some liberal voters, it wa