OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
8:01 PM – Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is set to deliver the Democrat rebuttal to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union (SOTU) address.
While the former CIA officer has emerged as a party standout following her double-digit victory in November, analysts are closely watching to see if she maintains her pragmatic, “affordability-first” stance or pivots to a more direct confrontation with Trump’s second-term agenda.
Spanberger (D-Va.) will reportedly speak from the historic area of Colonial Williamsburg.
“Virginians and Americans across the country are contending with rising costs, chaos in their communities, and a real fear of what each day might bring,” Spanberger said in a statement before the speech. “I look forward to laying out what these Americans expect and deserve — leaders who are working hard to deliver for them.”
Her selection by congressional leadership, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), announced last week, appears to signal the party’s intent to elevate a more “moderate,” results-oriented voice.
Spanberger is anticipated to draw a sharp contrast between her “affordability-first” platform and President Trump’s recent policy shifts.
Based on her early months in the Executive Mansion and her campaign trail rhetoric, Americans should expect a focus on three core pillars:
Economic Affordability
Following her victory in the 2025 gubernatorial election, Spanberger has consistently championed “kitchen-table” issues that directly affect working families. In her Democrat response, she is expected to criticize the administration’s tariff policies, claiming that they have left the economy in a state of “tariff-induced exhaustion” and driven up everyday costs for groceries, gas, and other essentials.
Spanberger is also anticipated to highlight a recent Supreme Court ruling, which found — by a 6-3 vote — that the president had “exceeded his statutory authority” under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) after imposing certain tariffs.
Additionally, Spanberger is likely to argue that these measures not only “burdened” American families economically but were implemented unlawfully. This line of attack aligns with her professed “emphasis” on affordability and responsible governance.
National Security and Experience
Leveraging her background as a former CIA officer and federal law enforcement official, Spanberger will likely challenge the president’s handling of global alliances. She is expected to attempt to frame the Democrat Party as the steady hand for national stability.
A “New Chapter” For Democracy
By speaking from Williamsburg, the colonial capital where the Virginia Declaration of Rights was adopted, Spanberger intends to invoke a “sense of historical continuity” and bipartisan duty.
The choice of the Virginia governor is highly strategic. After flipping the governorship in a 15-point landslide last November, Democrats feel that she has emerged as a rising star who can appeal to both suburban voters and moderates.
“Governor Spanberger embodies the best of America as a mother, community leader, and dedicated public servant,” said Jeffries in a statement. “She stands in stark contrast to the chaos we see in Washington.”
Spanberger’s response will air immediately following President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress.
Tune in to One America News (OAN) to listen to the president’s speech live and in full along with the Democrat rebuttal from Spanberger — https://live.oann.com/home.ktv
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