Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will deliver GOP response to Biden State of the Union address

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will deliver the Republicans’ address to the nation from Little Rock on Tuesday following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech to Congress.

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Sanders would offer Americans an alternative to Biden and the Democrats’ view of how to move the country forward.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to address the nation and contrast the GOP’s optimistic vision for the future against the failures of President Biden and the Democrats,” Sanders said in a statement. “We are ready to begin a new chapter in the story of America – to be written by a new generation of leaders ready to defend our freedom against the radical left and expand access to quality education, jobs, and opportunity for all.”

Sanders, elected Arkansas’ first female governor in November, was sworn in a little less than a month ago. She is the nation’s youngest governor.

She was former President Donald Trump’s press secretary and is the daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Last year, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivered the Republicans’ response to Biden’s state of the union.

The party opposite of the current president typically delivers a response immediately after the annual congressional address, and the speech, like the state of the union, is broadcast by most major television networks.

“While President Biden keeps repeating old mistakes and failing Americans, a rising generation of Republican Governors are fighting for families, advancing new solutions, and winning,” McConnell said in a statement.

“Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the youngest governor in the nation and a powerful advocate for the popular, commonsense conservative principles that will put our country back on a better course. The American people deserve better than Democrats’ runaway inflation, surging crime, open borders, and failing schools. I am excited for the nation to hear from Governor Sanders on Tuesday and witness a sharp contrast with this exhausted and failing Administration.”

McCarthy expressed a similar sentiment.

“Americans are still struggling from inflation, a border crisis, record crime, and a failing school system,” the new House speaker said. “As House Republicans work to fix these problems in Congress with our Commitment to America, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is addressing them head on with her conservative agenda outside of Washington.

“Sarah is fighting on behalf of parents, small businesses, and ordinary taxpayers. She is bringing new ideas for a changing future, while also applying the wisdom of the past, including from the leadership of her father, Mike.

“She is a servant-leader of true determination and conviction. I’m thrilled Sarah will share her extraordinary story and bold vision for a better America on Tuesday. Everyone, including President Biden, should listen carefully.”