Last month, President Trump delivered a two-hour State of the Union speech, the longest ever recorded. Because of that, the Democratic response was fittingly split across four representatives who lead different parts of the Democratic Party. Our own governor of Virginia, Abigail Spanberger, delivered the most publicized response from Williamsburg, only an hour away from Charlottesville. Many Virginia residents were excited to see Spanberger on the national stage representing us and her party. With that in mind, KTR is taking a look at all four State of the Union responses from the Democrats to see where the party is headed as we approach the midterm elections this fall.
- Abigail Spanberger: the Main Event
Governor Abigail Spanberger delivered the most publicized rebuttal, using the thoughtful and centrist approach that got her elected in Virginia back in November. She built the speech on three main questions: “Is the president working to make life more affordable for you and your family? Is the president working to keep Americans safe, both at home and abroad? Is the president working for you?”
Spanberger focused on rising inflation and costs for families, so her speech could appeal to every American trying to make ends meet and take care of their families, no matter their political affiliation. “They’re making your life harder. They’re making your life more expensive,” Spanberger explained, citing how the Big Beautiful Bill is forcing rural health clinics to close in Virginia and making it more difficult to see a doctor. She also credited House Democrats like herself for fighting similar bills from Trump, and said the party is “laser focused on affordability.”
Later in the speech, Spanberger tackled immigration by talking about her own experience in law enforcement when she worked with the CIA from 2006 to 2014. She emphasized that ICE drains resources from state and federal police departments who actually work with their communities: “Every minute spent sowing fear is a minute not spent investigating murders, crimes against children, or the criminals defrauding seniors of their life savings.” Again, Spanberger chose to focus on a side of the issue where Republicans and moderates could agree with her.
Looking ahead to the midterm elections, she also discussed the seats that flipped blue in governor positions and state legislatures nationwide. “Those who are stepping up now to run will win in November,” Spanberger affirmed. “Because Americans know you can demand more, and that we are working to lower costs, we are working to keep our communities and country safe, and we are working for you!”
2. Alex Padilla: the Spanish Language Response
“Only the people can save the people,” Senator Alex Padilla said in Los Angeles. “Our democracy shines brightest when we stand up and defend one another.”
Padilla, who represents California, delivered the Spanish language response to Trump’s State of the Union last month. He focused on what Spanish-speaking Americans are struggling with this year: ICE, human and constitutional rights, costs for families, and election security.
Throughout his speech, he referenced a “better path” to financial stability than the Trump administration, and directly compared Democrats’ work to his policies. “While Trump’s tariffs continue to drive up prices, Democrats are working to lower costs. Trump is trying to make voting harder – Democrats want to make it more accessible.” Padilla’s last point was very relevant, since Republicans in Congress had just applauded President Trump a few hours earlier for continuing to restrict mail-in ballots and introducing new requirements for voting identification. All of those voting policies will likely affect immigrants the most.
Padilla went on to discuss ICE and the American Dream, where he tied the history of millions of families with Latin American roots to the current fight against ICE. “Last year, many of you saw when federal agents pushed me to the ground and handcuffed me for demanding answers from this Administration over its military occupation in Los Angeles,” he said. “They may have knocked me down for a moment, but I got right back up. As our parents taught us: if you fall seven times, get up eight. I am still here. Standing. Still fighting. And I know you are still standing and still fighting too.”
Like Spanberger, he finished out his speech with a hopeful look toward the Democratic future. “Donald Trump will not be president forever. More importantly, the Dream that has inspired generations of Americans, and immigrants will remain long after Trump is gone.”
3. Summer Lee: the Working Families Party
Congresswoman Summer Lee has risen to prominence this year by pushing Congress to release the Epstein files and records of government surveillance on civil rights leaders. Her response to Trump’s State of the Union was no less progressive. In her response, Lee was representing the Working Families Party, a Democratic subgroup that supports labor unions and affordability. This speaking role gives important recognition to Lee, since it’s always given to rising stars in Congress.
Congresswoman Lee cast her speech as “an obituary for the country working people built”. She covered affordability and immigration like Spanberger and Padilla, but also took a step further left: Lee supported abolishing our current immigration system. She also focused on issues that the Working Families Party pursues: “Educators are facing attacks on public and higher education, because diversity and truth threaten corporate power. Workers are facing union-busting and retaliation.” She discussed her own struggles with student debt and her sister’s grueling work as a nurse to connect with her audience about how difficult it can be to support a family in the economy today. Later, Lee blamed the Trump administration for exacerbating our wealth divides.
She ended her speech by imploring Americans to protest, boycott and vote for what they want. “When Trump returned to the White House for a second time, too many institutions surrendered,” Lee said. “But ordinary people stood up. When federal immigration agents invaded Los Angeles and Minneapolis, when they killed Keith Porter and Renee Good and Alex Pretti, people didn’t stand by…I believe the American people deserve leaders who are as brave as they are.”
Looking ahead at the midterms, she told Democrats to vote for representatives who will really represent their interests, instead of candidates who pay lip service to popular issues but focus on their own campaign funding, in order to to fight all the issues in the Trump Administration.
4. Ruben Gallego: the ‘People’s State of the Union’
“I have more productive ways to spend two hours than listening to more lies,” Senator Ruben Gallego said when he announced that he would skip President Trump’s address last month. “This administration continues to disregard the rule of law and the Constitution while failing to lower costs for American families. I’ll pass.”
Senator Gallego is the first Latino Congressman to represent Arizona in either chamber. He’s represented his state since 2010, and before public service, he served in the Marines and earned a degree in government from Harvard University. Last month, he spoke at the ‘People’s State of the Union’, a counterprogramming rally. Trump had aired his address just hours before, and instead of attending the live speech, Gallego chose to give his own in response at this separate event, which also aired live from Washington DC.
Gallego centered his speech around his argument that the Trump administration is making Americans “sicker, poorer, and less secure” by defunding Medicaid, creating tariffs, and cutting food stamps. He also slammed corruption in Congress: “The poorest of our country are trying to figure out how to make ends meet and how to pay for that grocery bill, because [federal representatives] needed an extra billion dollars for their billionaire friends.” However, Senator Gallego ended on a high note of hope for the future, when he encouraged Democrats to “stay in the fight” for the midterm elections so that up-and-coming representatives can win enough seats.
