Abigail Spanberger, Governor of Virginia, is considered a possible new hope for the Democrats.image: Imago
With regard to the midterms, the Democrats are relying on Abigail Spanberger: The moderate governor of Virginia and former CIA agent should stand up to Trump and embody a pragmatic opposition.
Feb 25, 2026, 7:02 p.mFeb 25, 2026, 7:02 p.m
Shahzad ABDUL, Washington / AFP
Abigail Spanberger, chosen to respond to the US president’s speech on Tuesday, could embody the Democratic opposition’s strategy. They are currently looking for a way to stand up to Donald Trump more effectively.
translation
This text was written by our colleagues from French-speaking Switzerland and we translated it for you.
A few months before the US midterm elections, which could tip the balance of political power in November – Donald Trump currently has extensive powers after his return to the White House – the new governor of Virginia gave the opposition’s traditional response to the presidential speech. The 46-year-old, who was recently elected on a centrist platform, appeared in front of the cameras in Congress and reacted to the “State of the Union” speech. She said, among other things:
“In his speech, the President did what he always does: lied, looked for scapegoats, distracted – and did not present any concrete solutions to our country’s challenges.”
At times her speech sounded like an election campaign appearance:
“Americans deserve leaders who will address the issues that keep them up at night.”
Donald Trump delivers the first “State of the Union” speech of his second term before a joint session of Congress in the House of Representatives at the Capitol in Washington, DCimage: KENNY HOLSTON / POOL / AFP
An unusual career
First woman to lead Virginia, elected to Parliament several times, former agent of the US foreign secret service Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The aspiring Democrat combines many of the things her party is currently focused on. The Democrats want to rely on centrist voices – on assertive personalities who can hold their own both behind the scenes and in political exchanges.
Last year she was elected in the state with a population of over eight million – after a pragmatic election campaign that focused primarily on the rising cost of living.
During the election campaign, she emphasized on Tuesday, she had heard the same pressing concerns all over the country: “too high costs for housing, health care, energy or childcare …”. These are all issues that Donald Trump also claims as his own – and that she doesn’t want to leave to the Republicans without a fight.
This also applies to security issues – and even to migration. She describes the current migration policy as “inadequate” and “in need of reform”. At the same time, she criticizes the harshness and brutality with which Donald Trump approaches this issue.
A rapid rise
Just a few years ago, Abigail Spanberger was hardly known to the general public. In the 2000s, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and completed several foreign assignments – some of them undercover.
Abigail Spanberger gained national prominence in 2018 when she won a previously Republican-held constituency in Virginia. She was then re-elected as a member of parliament before finally moving to the governor’s office.
In her new position, Abigail Spanberger consolidated her profile as a politician who resonates beyond the core Democratic electorate – particularly on economic issues and national security issues.
Your choice could also be an indication of the Democrats’ strategic direction: Instead of relying on a head-on, ideologically charged confrontation, they apparently want to rely on a personality capable of reaching a consensus with controlled communication. That would be a contrast to figures like left-wing figurehead Zohran Mamdani, the new socialist mayor of New York, or California Governor Gavin Newsom – one of Donald Trump’s favorite political opponents.
Abigail Spanberger gives the Democratic response to Donald Trump’s “State of the Union” speech here on February 24, 2026 in Williamsburg (Virginia).image: MIKE KROPF / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP