Former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear to give Democratic response to Trump's first address to Congress

Democratic leaders announced Beshear's role today.

ByABC News
February 24, 2017, 1:15 PM

— -- Former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear will deliver the Democratic response to President Trump's first address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.

Astrid Silva, an immigration activist from Nevada and one of the so-called "dreamers," will deliver the Democrats' Spanish-language response to Trump's speech.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi announced the speakers for the Democratic response today, indicating that Beshear was selected to counter GOP plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act and Silva to address the president's actions on immigration.

As a Democratic governor of a red state, Beshear embraced Obamacare and expanded Medicaid for his constituents.

“Governor Beshear’s work in Kentucky is proof positive that the Affordable Care Act works; reducing costs and expanding access for hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians,” Schumer said in a statement.

Silva came to the U.S. when she was five. Her story as an unauthorized immigrant who was brought to the country as a child was mentioned by President Obama when he announced executive action on immigration reform in 2014. A split decision from the Supreme Court in 2016, however, blocked Obama's reform plan.

Silva also spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Silva marks the first time a Spanish response has been given in response to a president’s first address to a joint session of Congress. The first Spanish language response was New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's Democratic response to President Bush’s 2004 State of the Union.

This is also the first time that someone who hasn’t held public office before will deliver the official Spanish response for either party.

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