National News
Stacey Abrams to Give Democratic Response to Trump’s ‘State of the Union’
“I plan to deliver a vision for prosperity and equality, where everyone in our nation has a voice and where each of those voices is heard,” Abrams said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced Tuesday afternoon that Stacey Abrams will give the Democratic response to Trump’s “State of the Union” (SOTU) Address next week.
“She is just a great spokesperson,” Schumer said. “She is an incredible leader.”
“I plan to deliver a vision for prosperity and equality, where everyone in our nation has a voice and where each of those voices is heard,” Abrams said.
Abrams’ gubernatorial race in Georgia gained national attention. If she was elected, she would have been the first Black female governor in the country. She accused her opponent (Brian Kemp) of voter suppression during the midterm elections.
Kemp, who served as the Secretary of State, had more than 85,000 registrations cancelled under his watch— most of them Black voters.
Abrams, a longtime voter rights advocate, would not concede until every vote was counted.
“This is not a speech of concession,” she said when ending her campaign. “Because concession means to acknowledge an action that’s right, true or proper. As a woman of conscience and faith, I cannot concede that.”
But what has made Abrams even more unique, and perhaps the choice to go toe-to-toe with Trump, is her hold on progressives that caused major voter turnout.
She condemned white supremacist Confederate monuments, and aligned herself with LGBTQ groups, labor unions, pro-choice groups and gun control advocates.
According to Steve Phillips, author of Brown Is the New White, “The significance of Abrams’ candidacy is that she has provided empirical evidence about how to win in a highly polarized, racially charged political environment.”
Trump and his SOTU Address will most likely give Abrams that same environment to shine in.
At a moment when our nation needs to hear from leaders who can unite for a common purpose, I am honored to be delivering the Democratic State of the Union response.
Rumors have circulated post-midterms that she may be considering the governorship, the Senate and even the presidency in 2020. She didn’t clarify, saying she was “open to all options.”
Colleagues expressed their excitement on social media, including Andrew Gillum, whose gubernatorial campaign in Florida also made national headlines:
Andrew Gillum: Perfect pick by Democratic leaders to have @staceyabrams deliver the Democratic response to the #SOTU. We’re with you, Sis!
Ilhan Omar: Can’t wait to hear some truth from my sister @staceyabrams!