Democrats Turn to Moderate Abigail Spanberger for Trump Rebuttal
On Tuesday night, Abigail Spanberger will deliver the Democratic response to Donald Trump’s address from the historic grounds of Colonial Williamsburg. With midterm elections approaching and the Democratic Party seeking a path back to relevance, the party has selected a moderate figure who flipped a Republican-held congressional seat in the Richmond suburbs and subsequently won the Virginia governorship by 15 points.
Since assuming office from Republican Glenn Youngkin in January, Spanberger has acted swiftly, surprising conservatives and pleasing liberals. She fulfilled a campaign promise to end law enforcement’s cooperation agreements with ICE and supported a potential redrawing of Virginia’s congressional maps ahead of the midterms. When the Trump administration attempted to remove the University of Virginia’s president over diversity policies, she responded by forcing out the board members involved.
With Democrats now controlling the governorship, state senate, and house of delegates in Richmond for the first time in years, Spanberger has been assertive in her governance.
Conservative Criticism and Accusations
Conservative figures have responded quickly and critically. Fox News host Mark Levin claimed that Spanberger is
“moving at high speed to permanently radicalize and change the state”and accused her of having
“campaigned as a moderate and lied through her teeth.”The Lepanto Institute, a conservative Catholic organization, mocked her by depicting her as the White Witch from the Chronicles of Narnia, referencing the white outfit she wore to her inauguration to honor the suffrage movement.
Far-right activist Laura Loomer stated that
“white liberal women are the most dangerous people in our society,”sharing a video of Spanberger signing an executive order related to ICE. Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general overseeing the justice department’s civil rights division, viewed the same clip and criticized the governor.
These accusations contrast with Spanberger’s political identity, which has been built around distancing herself from left-wing labels.
Spanberger’s Background and Political Career
Spanberger spent years as a CIA case officer managing foreign intelligence sources before running for Congress in 2018 in a competitive suburban Richmond district that required appealing to voters who had supported Trump. After the 2020 elections, she warned Democratic colleagues on a caucus call to
“be careful not to be too far left,”a moment that progressive activists have not forgotten. She won the governorship last November by 15 points, marking the largest Democratic margin in a Virginia gubernatorial race in over six decades. Her victory coincided with democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral win in New York.
Spanberger will be the second former CIA official consecutively to deliver the Democratic response to a Trump address to a joint session of Congress. Last year, Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, also a moderate with national security credentials and bipartisan appeal, held the role. This repetition suggests Democratic strategists see the electoral center of gravity in candidates with similar profiles.
Strategic Reasoning Behind Spanberger’s Selection
DNC Chair Ken Martin, speaking at the California Democratic convention in San Francisco, explained the rationale behind Spanberger’s selection:
“Clearly her message last year resonated with Virginians. Her focus on affordability and kitchen-table issues resulted in a very decisive win in a very purple, if not red, state.”
Spanberger’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Internal Party Divisions and Progressive Response
Spanberger’s approach to ICE has been framed publicly around law enforcement competence and community trust rather than immigrant rights. Her selection highlights divisions within the Democratic Party regarding its future direction. A January poll found that 45% of Democrats want the party to move toward moderation, up from 34% in 2021, while another poll from the same month found that 46% want a progressive as the party’s 2028 nominee. An overwhelming majority desire the party to intensify its fight against corporations and the wealthy.
Senator Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have capitalized on this energy with their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, which attracted hundreds of thousands across the country between February and November last year, including thousands in deep-red states such as Utah, Montana, and Idaho.
While Spanberger will deliver the establishment Democratic response to Trump, progressives may look to Pennsylvania Democrat Summer Lee, who will deliver the Working Families Party response. Additionally, a Resistance boycott event in Washington, DC, will feature several high-profile political and entertainment figures delivering alternate, resistance-themed messages.
Spanberger’s Statement on Delivering the Response
Regarding her upcoming speech, Spanberger said she will speak from Williamsburg because the city represents
“the power of ordinary citizens to shape the future of our nation.”She added:
“I look forward to joining Virginians in this historic place to lay out the next chapter of our story – a clear vision for a stronger, safer, and more affordable future for every American who calls our nation home.”
Lauren Gambino contributed reporting.
