Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a swing-state freshman whose victory was a rare bright spot for Democrats in November, will deliver the party’s response to President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday.
Democratic leaders also announced that New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat will give the Spanish-language response to Trump. Both slots are generally reserved for high-profile up-and-comers who are tasked with highlighting a key element of the opposition party’s political agenda.
Trump is set to address lawmakers at a joint session of Congress in the House chamber after receiving a formal invitation from Speaker Mike Johnson “to share your America First vision for our legislative future.” The speech will be similar to a State of the Union, though it is not formally designated as such.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer called Slotkin “nothing short of a rising star in our party” who will lay out “the fight to tackle the deep challenges we face and chart a path forward.”
Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, narrowly won a Toss-up race for an open seat last fall, even as Michigan voters backed Trump in the presidential contest. She previously served six years in the House, representing a swing seat in central Michigan. A centrist Democrat, she has emphasized kitchen table economic issues as well as national security.
”I’m looking forward to speaking directly to the American people next week,’’ Slotkin said on social media. “The public expects leaders to level with them on what’s actually happening in our country.”
Espaillat, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, “embodies the very essence of the American dream,” Schumer said, “and he’s fought to keep that same promise alive for millions of American families.”
Espaillat, who previously served nearly two decades in the New York Legislature, is in his fifth term representing a district that includes parts of Manhattan and the Bronx. He was the first Dominican American elected to the House and the first formerly undocumented immigrant elected to Congress.
The post Slotkin, Espaillat to deliver Democratic responses to Trump’s joint address appeared first on Roll Call.
