Spanberger Given State of the Union Spotlight Despite Sewage Crisis

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, ran her gubernatorial campaign last year as a moderate Democrat. Now that she’s sworn in, however, Virginia Democrats are pushing for a slew of new taxes as the state struggles to respond to winter storms and the massive Potomac sewage spill.

Nevertheless, her performance seems good enough for national Democrats to give her the State of the Union spotlight. Spanberger will deliver the Democrat response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Tuesday night.

While the governor will deliver her national address from Williamsburg, Virginia, Republicans in Virginia are suggesting that Spanberger is leaving average Virginians behind.

“If Abigail Spanberger is the Democrats’ model politician, it just proves that they’re lying about who they are and what they plan to do,” Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., told the Daily Signal. 

Spanberger ran as a moderate Democrat, promising to lower costs for middle-class families, cut certain taxes, and keep the congressional district map as it stood. Now, however, some say her plan to provide affordability will increase taxes on Virginians. What’s more, Spanberger is considering signing certain tax increase proposals from the Democrat-controlled legislature and is moving forward with a plan to redistrict Virginia before the 2026 midterms.

“Abigail Spanberger is set to lie to the country after the State of the Union address just as she has lied to Virginians,” Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-VA., told the Daily Signal.  

“When she talks about ‘affordability,’ she means higher taxes; when she says ‘safer communities,’ she means prioritizing illegal immigrant criminals; and when she claims to ‘defend freedom,’ she means backing some of the most gerrymandered maps in the country—maps that silence and divide Virginians and weaken their voice,” Kiggans continued.  

“Unfortunately, rhetoric and reality couldn’t be farther apart for Governor Spanberger and I am confident that will be on full display after the President’s address,” Kiggans continued.

Dems Announce SOTU Response 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., announced Spanberger would deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address last week.  

“Gov. Spanberger has always put service over politics — defending our national security and delivering real results for working families. She knows Americans want lower costs, safer communities, and a stronger democracy — not chaos and corruption,” Schumer said in the press release. 

“Gov. Spanberger will lay out a clear path forward: lower everyday costs, protect healthcare, and defend the freedoms that define who we are as a nation,” he concluded.

Republicans believe Democrats have found their wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“By awarding her this speech, Democrats are saying they think Abigail Spanberger has unlocked the code and they’re holding her up as their new ideal candidate. But she lied to get elected and concealed her true agenda, masquerading as a moderate and promising to address affordability,” Cline told The Daily Signal.  

“As soon as she won, the mask came off and she began governing as a leftist, immediately acting to raise electricity rates and entertaining every tax increase under the sun,” Cline continued. 

Spanberger’s Frozen Poop Problem 

Democrats placing Spanberger on a pedestal so soon might backfire as the Virginia governor has struggled to respond to the sewage catastrophe in the Potomac River.

Since January, over 240 million gallons of sewage have spilled into the river due to critical infrastructure weakening.

The response has triggered the ire of the president.

 “The two Governors and the Mayor of D.C. must act, IMMEDIATELY,” said Trump in a Truth Social post.

“This is a Radical Left caused Environmental Hazard. With all of their talk about carbon footprints and everything else, they’re allowing hundreds of tons of sewage to pour into the Mighty Potomac, making it much less mighty. ACT FAST. I am awaiting your call,” the president continued.  

While Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has requested the federal government’s assistance, both Spanberger and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore have refused to ask for hemp from the Trump administration.

Virginia Petition Says Spanberger Has Gone ‘Far Left’

A petition recently went viral on Facebook calling for “legislative review and accountability of Governor Spanberger.” The petition, live on Change.org, has over 105,000 verified signatures.  

“While I did not vote for her, I was not upset when she won the governor’s office. She ran on an explicitly moderate platform, and I trusted that she would govern as a moderate,” said Lisa Vaughan, the creator of the petition. 

“However, since taking office, she appears to have moved to the far left on a number of issues,” Vaughan continued.  

The petition calls for the Virginia General Assembly to hold public hearings for Virginians to voice their concerns regarding Spanberger, and she must attend at least one.

It also asks the assembly to conduct a formal legislative review of the governor’s use of executive orders and consider appropriate legislative remedies.

Spanberger did not respond to The Daily Signal’s request for comment.

The post Spanberger Given State of the Union Spotlight Despite Sewage Crisis appeared first on The Daily Signal.