Tuesday, Feb. 24, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger D.P.S. ’26 delivered the Democratic Party’s response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address at the Capitol building in Colonial Williamsburg.
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation announced this event several days prior in an online statement. The foundation, as well as CW President and CEO Cliff Fleet ’91, M.A. ’93, J.D. ’95, M.B.A. ’95, emphasized that this was a nonpartisan historic and civic event.
“As an educational organization dedicated to teaching about America’s founding, Colonial Williamsburg proudly advances this American legacy by encouraging civic engagement and hosting leaders from all sides of the political spectrum,” Fleet said.
A statement released by the governor’s office also cited Williamsburg’s significance in American history as a primary reason for its selection. Spanberger believes that the city represents the importance of democratic governance and civic engagement.
“Since the people of the Virginia Colony first gathered to take on the extraordinary task of governing themselves, Williamsburg has served as a testament to the power of ordinary citizens to shape the future of our nation, demand better from our government, and pursue a more perfect union for all,” Spanberger said in the statement.
Spanberger opened by noting the significance of her choice of location.
“We are gathered here in the chambers of the House of Burgesses. In 1705, the people of the Virginia Colony gathered here to take on the extraordinary task of governing themselves. Before there was a Declaration of Independence, a Constitution or a Bill of Rights, there were people in this room,” Spanberger said. “I can think of no better place to speak to you as we reflect on the current state of our union.”
A select group of students from the College of William and Mary were invited to attend Spanberger’s speech in person.
Adrian Ryan ’27, president of the College’s Young Democrats organization, said he received an invitation from the governor’s office to attend the address.
“It was a really cool opportunity, and it was really great to see everybody there and to hear the governor speak,” Ryan said.
Some student attendees were also invited to speak with members of the Democratic Party and present government officials.
“The event last night was a really great opportunity for students to interact with local Democrats and local organizers in our area, with cabinet members in the governor’s administration, including the Secretary of Education, the Attorney General, the Lieutenant Governor, with just members of the community who we wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to talk to or network with,” Ryan said.
Ryan reflected on the speech’s content, particularly in relation to Trump’s address.
“I think the governor touched on a couple key themes, principally that the president isn’t doing enough for the American people. Notably, the president did not discuss many of the controversies that are going on at the moment,” Ryan said. “The Spanberger speech or the governor really brought back a lot of those themes into the view of the American people.”
Class of 1935 Professor of Government John McGlennon commented on the political value of juxtaposing Spanberger and Trump.
“I think that Spanberger’s choice was a reflection of the idea that the voters are really looking for change from the current administration,” McGlennon said. “The ways in which she has addressed issues that really matter and are likely to be central to the 2026 election campaign gave Democrats a feeling that she’d be able to marshal the arguments and the way of presenting them that would be most effective.”
McGlennon noted the historical significance of Williamsburg’s House of Burgesses as the location.
“I think she was trying to draw a direct line to the founding of democracy in America, and since for a lot of voters, the question of whether democracy is being undermined or whether there’s been some backsliding on democracy is a really key one,” McGlennon said. “This was a way of reinforcing the notion that we were founded around democratic principles and that she wants to remind people that there are fundamental aspects of our system that need to be reinforced.”
Ryan reflected on the excitement of attending such a high-profile, nationally impactful event within Williamsburg.
“It was such a historical experience, in such a historic time, because this was the response to the State of the Union on the 250th anniversary of this country,” Ryan said. “For it to be held in Williamsburg in the House of Burgesses in the first legislature ever in the Western Hemisphere was really symbolic and really a special event to be a part of.”
