By Gabriella BorterWASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin, a swing-state moderate with vast national security expertise, is scheduled to provide her party’s response to President Donald Trump’s forthcoming address to Congress, as confirmed by her party’s leaders on Thursday.Slotkin, a 48-year-old former Central Intelligence Agency analyst, boasts a track record of triumph in challenging electoral battles. In 2018, she defeated a Republican opponent to secure a seat in the House of Representatives during Trump’s initial term in office, and most recently, she clinched a Senate victory in Michigan last November, a feat achieved even as Trump emerged victorious in the state’s presidential race.Following their loss of the White House and Senate control in November, Democrats have been hustling to establish their positions, permitting Trump’s Republican camp to aggressively pursue governmental reforms throughout the current year.Slotkin’s forthcoming rebuttal is poised to provide Democrats with a platform to articulate their dissent against Trump’s policy agenda subsequent to his speech scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday (0200 GMT Wednesday) to the joint session of Congress.Slotkin’s successful Senate campaign was anchored on a promise to alleviate financial burdens for American households, a narrative that the Democratic Party hierarchy has since expressed remorse over not having more of their candidates endorse in 2024.”She will present a bold vision of hope, unity, and a more promising future for all, not just the privileged few at the apex,” remarked Chuck Schumer, the leading Democrat in the Senate, in a statement unveiling the selection. “Elissa Slotkin will articulate the battle to confront the profound challenges confronting us today, map out a course for the future, and shape the destiny of our nation.”(Reported by Gabriella Borter; Edited by Scott Malone)
