VA Governor To Deliver Democratic Response To Trump's State Of The Union Address

RICHMOND, VA — Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has been selected to deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, which will take place next week, according to an Associated Press report.

Spanberger, who served three terms in Congress, was sworn in on Jan. 17, becoming the Commonwealth's first female governor after defeating Republican Winsome Earle-Sears. She succeeded Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

The Democratic rebuttal will immediately follow Trump’s address to Congress next Tuesday, offering the party’s most high-profile opportunity to deliver a countermessage.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in announcing Spanberger as the party’s pick that she “embodies the best of America as a mother, community leader and dedicated public servant.”

Spanberger, a former case officer with the CIA, flipped a U.S. House seat in Northern Virginia in 2018 and retired from Congress in 2024 to run for governor.

On the campaign trail last year, Spanberger also spoke out against the White House’s gutting of the civil service, an issue that hit particularly hard in Virginia, home to a large number of federal workers.

"Those who have devoted their lives to public service, you are worried about an administration that is gilding buildings while schools crumble, breaking the social safety net and sowing fear across our communities,” Spanberger said at her inauguration. “Betraying the values of who we are as Americans.”

Following her win in last November's election, Spanberger pledged to focus on problems Virginia families face, such as the economy, affordable housing, predatory lending, high pharmaceutical prices, tackling energy prices and supply by making large users pay more.

Spanberger also said she will focus on problem-solving, not stoking division.

"You chose leadership that will always put Virginia first," she said.

The president's State of the Union address is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET. Virginians can watch live on major television news networks, PBS News Special Coverage on YouTube, or stream it directly via thirteen.org/live and the official White House website.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.