Formerly a businessman and loss prevention officer as well as a city councillor in Abbotsford, British Columbia from 1990 to 2004, Warawa was the Member of Parliament for Langley—Aldergrove (originally called Langley) from 2004 until his death in 2019.

On February 10, 2006, Warawa was named parliamentary secretary to the Minister of the Environment.

Less recently, he served as a member of the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

Warawa introduced a private member's bill in the House of Commons, condemning discrimination against females in sex-selective abortion.

His son Ryan was the Conservative candidate in Vancouver East in the 2008 election, losing to Libby Davies of the NDP.