What can we expect from President Trump’s State of the Union address?
Here’s what to expect from President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.
The governor of Virginia is in the spotlight ahead of President Donald Trump’s address to the nation on the evening of February 24th.
Entering the second year of his second administration, President Trump is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union address to a joint session of the House and Senate. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) invited President Trump to speak in January.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is one of at least a dozen Democratic lawmakers refusing to attend the Washington, D.C., event, saying it does not “justify” President Trump’s comments. At least five senators and seven representatives announced they would skip speeches and instead hold a “State of the Union” rally on the National Mall.
Congressional leaders said Spanberger, 46, will deliver the Democratic Party’s rebuttal to the president’s speech.
She became the first woman to hold Virginia’s highest office in last year’s landslide gubernatorial election, marking a victory for the national Democratic Party in a year dominated by Republicans.
Here’s what you need to know about Spanberger before the event.
Who is Abigail Spanberger?
Mr. Spanberger is the 75th Governor of Virginia.
He was elected to the state’s top seat in November, defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earl Sears.
Born Abigail Ann Davis in New Jersey, she moved to Virginia and began representing the state’s 7th Congressional District in 2018, winning her third consecutive term.
According to Spanberger’s online profile, she is “a proud member of Virginia’s public schools and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.”
She previously worked for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, where her career continues today, and is a former law enforcement officer for the CIA.
She, her husband, Adam Spanberger, and their three daughters live in Henrico County, home to the state capital, Richmond.
How to watch the State of the Union address
USA TODAY will stream coverage of the State of the Union.
In addition to the livestream, it will also be broadcast on the White House’s YouTube page and on major broadcast stations including ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, NewsNation, NPR, PBS, and the BBC.
Contributors: Fernando Cervantes Jr. and Zachary Schermele
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund.
