Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger gave a rebuttal to President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address Tuesday night, emphasizing the question “Is the president working to make life more affordable?”
Faisal Kutty: Spanberger’s Question and Answer is Clear
Governor Abigail Spanberger’s response worked because it offered a governing alternative rooted in affordability and accountability. While Trump repeated familiar grievances and defended trade policies already raising costs for families and small businesses, Spanberger asked the question voters are asking: “Is the president working to make life more affordable?” Her answer — and her agenda — were clear.
She linked reckless tariffs, economic instability, and executive overreach directly to higher prices and declining public trust. On immigration and security, she argued that sowing fear does nothing to lower costs or keep communities safe, and only weakens confidence in government.
Rather than offering spectacle, Spanberger offered substance: lower costs, constitutional guardrails, humane reform, and economic stability. In a season of noise, that seriousness stands out.
Lawyer and Law Professor
Tim Ryan: Americans Looking to Democrats for Hope
Governor Spanberger set the record straight on a huge number of delusional boasts about cost of living, taxes, and America’s standing in the world. Spanberger did an admirable job. She struck a positive tone while pressing the truth: that Trump is recklessly making life more expensive for all Americans. But Democrats need to go on the offense and speak directly to the voters who delivered Trump to office in 2024. Because the affordability message is key, Democrats should lean into an all of the above energy strategy, pairing natural gas with renewables to bring down energy costs, especially in black and brown communities. They should go all in to make food healthy which is a huge contrast as this administration is rubber stamping more poison on our children’s food. And we need to be strong defenders of American farmers against this administration that is eliminating their customers through insane trade policies and protecting the very monopolies that drive our farmers into bankruptcy and crush our rural communities. Trump led with poison tonight. Americans are looking to the Democrats for some hope.
Former Congressman, Senior Advisor, Campaign for Working Americans at the Progressive Policy Institute
Nina Turner: Spanberger Makes Scathing Critique
In the Democratic response, Govenor Abigail Spanberger came out swinging as she declared, “We did not hear the truth from our president.” She sealed her scathing critique by asking Americans to consider if the president’s policies are making life more affordable for them. From the economy to housing, to the killing of American citizens at the hands of ICE agents, the governor’s conclusion was a resounding no.
She made it clear that President Trump is a master at dividing and conquering, but not delivering for working people.
Former Ohio State Senator, senior fellow at The Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at the New School
