Overview
- House and Senate minority leaders selected Spanberger to deliver the televised rebuttal following President Trump’s Feb. 24 address.
- Sen. Alex Padilla will give the Spanish-language response, signaling targeted outreach to Latino audiences.
- Democratic leaders previewed themes of lowering everyday costs, protecting health care, and defending democratic freedoms and the federal workforce.
- Spanberger took office in January after a double-digit gubernatorial win and previously served three House terms and as a CIA case officer.
- The response will unfold as a DHS funding impasse has triggered a partial federal shutdown, with some Democrats planning alternate events instead of attending the speech.