Abigail Spanberger Preaches ‘Affordability’ In Trump State Of Union Response, Despite Presiding Over High Tax Regime
Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger has blasted President Donald Trump over the cost of living in the United States, despite leading a state party that has proposed about 50 different taxes in recent weeks.
Spanberger delivered her party’s response to Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address, lambasting the president for his new tariffs, which she called “another massive tax increase on you and your family,” and accusing congressional Republicans of making Americans’ lives “harder” and “more expensive.” However, since she took office in January, the governor’s party has introduced dozens of new taxes and tax increases through the state Legislature in just two weeks.
Taxes proposed by Virginia Democrats in the second half of January included levies on food delivery, concerts, ride-sharing services, fantasy sports, dog walking, dry cleaning and electric leaf blowers, ABC affiliate WJLA reported in late January. (RELATED: Major defense contractor flees Spanberger’s Virginia just weeks after taking office)
“Is the president working to make life more affordable for you and your family? » Spanberger asked the American audience as she responded to Trump’s speech.
“Since this president took office last year, his reckless trade policies have forced American families to pay more than $1,700 each in tariffs. Small businesses have suffered, farmers have suffered, some losing entire markets. Ordinary Americans are paying the price,” the governor continued. “And even though the Supreme Court struck down these tariffs four days ago, the damage to us, the American people, has already been done. »
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“Meanwhile, the president is planning new tariffs, another massive tax increase on you and your family. And the Republicans in Congress – they still won’t assert their constitutional authority to stop it. They’re making your life harder, they’re making your life more expensive, they’re even making it harder to get to a doctor,” Spanberger said.
“And it’s not just me. Democrats across the country are focused on affordability,” the Virginia governor continued. “Americans deserve to know that their leaders are focused on solving the issues that keep them up at night. Issues that determine where you live, whether you can afford to start a business, or whether you have to skip a prescription to buy groceries.”
A memo sent to Republican members of Congress from the Advancing American Freedom Foundation estimates that if seven of the Democratic tax bills were passed, they would increase Virginians’ taxes by $6.6 billion in the next fiscal year, The Center Square reported.
While Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger claims that Democrats are the party of “affordability,” Democrats in her state have proposed the following forced taxes/costs on ordinary Americans:
• the tax on dog walking and grooming
• tax on firearms and ammunition
• new income tax brackets
• storage…– Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) February 25, 2026
The Democrat flipped Virginia’s governorship from red to blue in November 2025 after heavily emphasizing affordability during her campaign, saying Trump’s policies were hurting her state’s economy.
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