A rising Democratic leader
All eyes are on Abigail Spanberger as she prepares to deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Party leaders selected her to give the rebuttal, a role often used to showcase emerging national figures.
Spanberger won the Virginia governor’s race last year, flipping control in Richmond and defeating former Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears by a wide margin. Since then, many Democrats have pointed to her as a leading voice for the party’s next generation.
Why Democrats picked her
Democrats likely chose Spanberger because of her success in competitive areas. Before becoming governor, she represented a battleground congressional district. In 2018, during the Democratic “blue wave,” she narrowly defeated GOP Rep. Dave Brat by about two percentage points.
That victory made her the first woman to represent her district and the first Democrat to win there in decades. Because she built support in a swing region, party leaders see her as someone who can appeal to moderate and independent voters, especially in an election cycle shaped by sharp partisan divides.
A different profile from the “Squad”
While media coverage in 2018 focused on progressive lawmakers such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her allies, Spanberger carved out a different identity. Instead of aligning with the party’s left wing, she joined a small group of newly elected Democratic women with national security experience.
They informally called themselves “The Badasses.” Among them were Elissa Slotkin, Mikie Sherrill, Chrissy Houlahan and Elaine Luria. Over time, several members moved on to other roles, including statewide office and the Senate.
Intelligence background and experience
Before entering politics, Spanberger spent eight years at the Central Intelligence Agency. She worked in clandestine services and later became an operations officer. In 2014, she left government service for the private sector.
Earlier in her career, she taught at the Islamic Saudi Academy in Virginia. During her first congressional campaign, critics questioned that experience. However, federal agencies granted her security clearances after reviewing her background, and she later served overseas in counterterrorism roles.
A national spotlight moment
Now, as governor and a former CIA officer, Spanberger steps onto the national stage with the State of the Union response. Democrats appear to be highlighting her pragmatic image, national security credentials and record in competitive races.
By choosing her, party leaders signal that they want to focus on swing voters and project a steady, security-focused message ahead of the next election cycle.
