Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger delivered the Democratic response to Trump’s State of the Union address, sharply criticizing his immigration crackdown. She described ICE agents arresting nursing mothers, detaining children without warrants, and operating with masked faces and no accountability.
She highlighted the case of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, detained during an ICE operation in Minnesota, calling the administration’s tactics “reckless” and “un-American.”
Spanberger, who won Virginia’s governorship by 15+ points in November 2025, also attacked Trump’s tariff policies and a Republican spending bill she said threatens rural hospitals and cuts food programs for children.
Democrats are positioning her as a key national voice ahead of the 2026 midterms, betting her cross-partisan appeal can resonate with voters frustrated by rising costs and aggressive federal enforcement.