🔴 Website 👉 https://u-s-news.com/
Telegram 👉 https://t.me/usnewscom_channel
OAN Staff Sophia Flores
6:28 PM – Thursday, February 19, 2026
Democrat leaders have officially tapped Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger to deliver the “Democratic response” to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union (SOTU) address on Tuesday, February 24th.
On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced the decision in a joint endorsement, further championing Spanberger’s career as a model of “nonpartisan” leadership.
They specifically highlighted her commitment to “service over politics,” in their own words, arguing that her focus remains fixed on delivering substantive policy wins and economic stability for the region’s working families rather than engaging in partisan optics.
“I am honored to announce that Governor Abigail Spanberger will deliver the Democratic Response to the State of the Union Address,” Jeffries said, in part. “A trusted public servant, Governor Spanberger began her career as a Postal Inspector and national security professional, protecting the country against our adversaries. She went on to vigorously serve her community in Congress. In November, she won the Governorship in Virginia by the largest margin for a Democratic candidate in six decades. Throughout her career, Governor Spanberger has worked to deliver real results for everyone, while upholding the Constitution.”
“Gov. Spanberger has always put service over politics — defending our national security and delivering real results for working families,” Schumer stated. “She knows Americans want lower costs, safer communities, and a stronger democracy — not chaos and corruption. Gov. Spanberger will lay out a clear path forward: lower everyday costs, protect healthcare, and defend the freedoms that define who we are as a nation.”
Spanberger later stated that she is eager to outline a governance model rooted in what Americans both expect and deserve. She argued that the public is looking for leaders who prioritize hard work and tangible progress over political posturing, ensuring that the government is actively working to meet the needs of its citizens.
“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 Thursday. “Next week, I look forward to laying out what these Americans expect and deserve — leaders who are working hard to deliver for them.”
The minority leaders also announced that Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) will deliver the Spanish-language response. In his remarks, Padilla is expected to focus on lowering costs, “safeguarding democracy” and reining in “rogue federal agencies.”
“Americans don’t need another speech from Donald Trump pretending everything is fine when their bills are too high, paychecks are too low, and masked and militarized federal agents are roaming our communities violating Constitutional rights on a daily basis,” Padilla said in a statement Thursday.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
What do YOU think? Click here to jump to the comments!
Sponsored Content Below