Who is Abigail Spanberger, the Democrat delivering Trump State of the Union rebuttal? | The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload ourSocial PartnerWe are 8 logo (opens in a new tab)AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleJoey CappellettiWednesday 25 February 2026 04:16 GMTSpanberger became Virginia’s first female governor earlier this year (AP)Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger was chosen to deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.Her selection came months after she secured a resounding victory in the Virginia gubernatorial election, an office previously held by a Republican.Spanberger, a former CIA case officer and three-term Congresswoman, made history as Virginia's first female governor.House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries lauded her as a dedicated public servant, while Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated she would focus on lowering costs, protecting healthcare, and defending freedoms.She won the governorship by a double-digit margin against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, campaigning primarily on issues of affordability for families.In fullWhat to expect in Gov Abigail Spanberger’s response to Trump State of the Union addressThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in