Democrats tapped Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) to give the party’s response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night, and she chose to make “affordability” the top priority of her speech. But after a cursory attack on Trump’s tariff policies, the newly elected governor of Virginia failed to identify a single policy proposal that Democrats are pursuing either in her state or nationally that would make anything more affordable. 

“As I campaigned for governor last year, I traveled to every corner of Virginia,” Spanberger said, “and I heard the same pressing concern everywhere: costs are too high — in housing, healthcare, energy, and child care. And I know these same conversations are being had all across this country. Here in Virginia, I am working with our state legislature to lower costs and make the commonwealth more affordable. And it’s not just me. Democrats across the country are laser-focused on affordability — in our nation’s capital and in state capitals and communities across America.”