If ever there was a perfect story to sum up the disarray that is the Democrat Party circa 2026, it's this one. The party looking to solidify its messaging ahead of the midterm elections – they'd like very much to gain control of the U.S. House of Representatives – is about to use the occasion of the State of the Union (SOTU), to be delivered Tuesday by President Trump, to serve up copious amounts of chaos and confusion to voters.
As RedState reported on Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, who's been in office just over one month, would be delivering the official Democrat rebuttal following the conclusion of Tuesday's SOTU.
Schumer praised the pick of Spanberger, claiming she is someone who "has always put service over politics. She knows Americans want lower costs, safer communities, and a stronger democracy — not chaos and corruption. 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 also said that Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) would give the Democrat response in Spanish.
That's that settled, then, right? Not so fast.
READ MORE: Democrats' Newest Radical Darling Picked for State of the Union Rebuttal
Dems Plot to Make a Circus Out of the State of the Union Address, Because of Course They Do
As it turns out, Democrats are all over the place when it comes to how to respond to Trump on Tuesday, with one giving a socialist-theme rebuttal, several planning to skip the address and gather with protesters instead, and one – Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13) – vowing to cause disruptions.
It's being framed as providing State of the Union "counterprogramming" – maybe after they saw the success of Turning Point USA's alternate Super Bowl halftime show? – but it's actually insanely garbled messaging surrounding one of Trump's biggest moments of the year. Voters will be left wondering who, exactly, speaks for Democrats and what is the message?
Democrats giving State of The Union responses to Trump https://t.co/XOsCQQDeN3
— Axios (@axios) February 20, 2026
Democrat congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) says she'll be giving the official Working Families Party response, using the occasion to "elevate the voices of the people ... who are angry, scared, and fed up with an administration that's done nothing to help and a lot to hurt everyday people."
Then there are the protesters and disruptors. As RedState's Bob Hoge reported, "Democrats now rely on obstruction, protests, and endless whining over imagined existential threats posed by the president." And they'll be going all-in on Tuesday, with several of their most high-profile members holding a “People’s State of the Union” on the National Mall; the event is sponsored by MoveOn Civic Action and other "coalition partners."
Speakers at the event include Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), as well as Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), according to a press release.
If you wonder how the Democrats got to this confused point, clues could be found when Democrat House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) attempted to address threats by members of his caucus to disrupt Trump's speech. This is what "leading from behind" looks like:
⚡️ @AndrewSolender questions @RepJeffries on his reporting about Democratic House members disrupting Trump's State of the Union. pic.twitter.com/CYLpbbEcNn
— Axios Comms (@AxiosComms) February 12, 2026
President Trump will deliver the State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24, at 9:00 p.m. ET. RedState will be liveblogging the entire thing, so make plans to join us!
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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