Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger forcefully challenged President Donald Trump’s portrayal of the nation as entering a new “golden age,” arguing in the Democratic response to his State of the Union address that Americans are still struggling with high costs more than a year into his second term.
Speaking from Colonial Williamsburg, Spanberger framed her remarks around affordability, public safety and democratic values — a message Democrats plan to elevate nationwide ahead of the November midterm elections.
“Is the president working to make life more affordable for you and your family?” Spanberger asked viewers. “Is the president working to keep Americans safe, both at home and abroad? Is the president working for you?”
“We all know the answer is no,” she said.
Democrats center affordability
Spanberger’s rebuttal sought to draw a sharp contrast with Trump’s record-breaking address to Congress, which lasted nearly two hours and included repeated claims that costs have fallen and the country has entered a new era of prosperity.
Trump declared during his speech that “this is the golden age of America,” touting his administration’s economic and immigration policies while attacking Democrats and the previous administration.
Spanberger countered that families continue to face rising prices and economic uncertainty, accusing Trump of prioritizing his own interests and deepening divisions.
“He has sent poorly trained federal agents into our cities,” she said, criticizing the administration’s mass deportation tactics. “He seeks to pit us against one another while enriching himself, his family and his friends.”
“This is not what our founders envisioned. Not by a long shot,” Spanberger said.
Democratic leaders see Spanberger’s message as a model for the party’s broader midterm strategy. Her double-digit victory in Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial race — which flipped the state’s executive office from Republican to Democratic control — is frequently cited by party officials as proof that disciplined, cost-focused messaging resonates with voters.
“Democrats across the country are laser-focused on affordability,” Spanberger said. “Americans deserve leaders who are addressing the problems that keep them up at night.”
A shorter rebuttal, a broader contrast
Spanberger spoke for roughly 13 minutes, a fraction of Trump’s marathon address — now the longest State of the Union speech in U.S. history.
During Trump’s remarks, he repeatedly goaded Democrats in the House chamber for not standing or applauding, escalating his insults as the speech continued. Democrats largely remained silent.
Texas Rep. Al Green was removed from the chamber just minutes into Trump’s address after holding a protest sign reading “Black People Aren’t Apes!” He was later censured by the House.
Outside the chamber, dozens of Democrats skipped the speech altogether, attending counter-programming events organized by MoveOn, including a “People’s State of the Union” on the National Mall.
“We know our state of the union,” Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen said at the event. “We know it is under attack.”
Midterm stakes loom
Democrats believe political momentum is shifting ahead of November’s elections, which will determine control of Congress. In addition to Spanberger’s win in Virginia, party leaders point to a recent Texas special election in which a Democrat flipped a reliably Republican state Senate seat that Trump carried by 17 points in 2024.
California Sen. Alex Padilla delivered the party’s Spanish-language response to Trump’s address, describing the nation as “living a nightmare that divides and destroys our communities.”
“They may have knocked me down for a moment, but I got right back up,” Padilla said, referencing his removal from a Homeland Security news conference last year while questioning immigration raids. “I am still here. Standing. Still fighting.”
Spanberger, meanwhile, sought to tie congressional Republicans closely to Trump, accusing them of failing to check the president’s authority — particularly on tariffs, which she warned would raise prices further.
“They’re making your life harder,” she said. “They’re making your life more expensive.”
