Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been selected to deliver the Democratic Response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 4.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced Whitmer's selection in a joint statement Friday. “Since day one, Governor Whitmer has rolled up her sleeves to get things done for the people of Michigan,” said Pelosi. “During her time in public service, she has led the charge to expand health care to hundreds of thousands of people, expand protections for hard-working middle-class families, and ensure clean drinking water in our communities. Her decades of hard work on behalf of the people should serve as a model for our nation. She’s a forward-looking leader who is laser-focused on solving problems for everyday Michiganders and is uniquely qualified to deliver Democrats’ message of progress for all Americans.”

Schumer added that "Governor Whitmer's dedication to Michiganders is a model for public servants everywhere. Thanks to her tireless efforts, thousands more families across the state have access to quality health care, safer drinking water, and the opportunity for a good-paying job." He continued: "Whether it's pledging to 'Fix the Damn Roads' or investing in climate solutions, Governor Whitmer's vision for the future is exactly what this country needs, and I'm thrilled she is giving the Democratic Response.”

Whitmer posted on Twitter that she was "thrilled to have the opportunity to deliver the the Democratic Response to the State of the Union," adding that "this is an opportunity to show the American people that we are getting things done for them and for future generations." Congresswoman Vanessa Escobar, who represents Texas’s 16th Congressional District in El Paso, has been selected to deliver the Spanish-language Democratic Response.