Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) is poised to deliver the progressive response to the State of the Union.
Ramirez, a first-term Democrat, is expected to offer a response to the Republican rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders as well as Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), and lay out a vision for Democrats.
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“I will be laying out a vision for how Democrats can win working-class voters of all races and nationalities by fighting for a government that has working people’s backs,” Ramirez tweeted.
I will be laying out a vision for how Democrats can win working-class voters of all races and nationalities by fighting for a government that has working people’s backs https://t.co/5W10Er63Mu
— Delia Ramirez (@DeliaRamirezIL) February 3, 2023
Her speech will be delivered on behalf of the Working Families Party. On Thursday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced the selection of Ciscomani and Sanders, who was sworn in as governor last month. Ramirez believes that the choice is in keeping with Republican “extremism.”
“That gives Democrats an opportunity — if we can seize it,” Ramirez said in a statement, per Politico.
“Social Security, Medicare, abortion rights and comprehensive immigration reform are not political talking points. They’re essential to our nation’s well-being,” she continued. “We must also show working people how Democrats will deliver for them if they put us back in the majority. That’s our path to a working families majority in Congress.”
Ramirez is also expected to underscore the need for Democrats to step up their game with Latino voters. Other issues she may raise include imploring the Biden administration to undertake executive actions on drug pricing and overtime pay.
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Last year, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) gave the progressive response to Biden’s address. Some Democrats criticized Tlaib for drawing too sharp of a contrast with Biden, but Ramirez’s speech could be toned down by comparison, Politico reported.
Two other groups — the Congressional Black Caucus and the No Labels centrist group — gave responses to Biden’s State of the Union address last year, but so far neither group has unveiled plans for a follow-up address this year.
