House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced who would be delivering the rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.
McCarthy tweeted Thursday, “Governor [Sarah Huckabee] of Arkansas will deliver the Republican Address to the Nation after the State of the Union next Tuesday, February 7.”
He noted Sanders is the “Youngest governor in America, First female governor in Arkansas history, First father-daughter governance in history.”
McCarthy urged everyone, including Biden, to tune in.
She is the
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) February 2, 2023
✓ Youngest governor in America
✓ First female governor in Arkansas history
✓ First father-daughter governance in history
Everyone—including President Biden—should tune in. pic.twitter.com/8FlP4p8OIL
The decision was celebrated on the platform by several users.
Arkansas state Rep. David Ray replied, “Very excited that Arkansas’s voice will be at the forefront of pushing back against the Biden agenda. Congrats Governor [Sarah Huckabee].”
Very excited that Arkansas's voice will be at the forefront of pushing back against the Biden agenda. Congrats Governor @SarahHuckabee! #arpx https://t.co/U6zYnFfkjU
— David Ray (@DavidARay) February 2, 2023
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel wrote, “Fantastic choice!”
Fantastic choice! https://t.co/MH3UlgDcmJ
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) February 2, 2023
The Republican Governors Association responded, “Congratulations to Gov [Sarah Huckabee]! An excellent choice!”
Congratulations to Gov @SarahHuckabee! An excellent choice! https://t.co/rO48nY558M
— The RGA (@GOPGovs) February 2, 2023
Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) acknowledged Sanders as a “pro-life champion and a fighter against the woke indoctrination of children in the classroom. A fantastic messenger for the American people and PARENTAL RIGHTS!”
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is a pro-life champion and a fighter against the woke indoctrination of children in the classroom. A fantastic messenger for the American people and PARENTAL RIGHTS! https://t.co/zeqE5zQ9zc pic.twitter.com/JQyYvvFvur
— Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) February 2, 2023
Read more reactions below:
Wow. Is your Governor giving the SOTU response? Ours is. https://t.co/73UyiP0gd9
— Nicholas Horton (@nhhorton) February 2, 2023
Congratulations to Gov. @SarahHuckabee. In all our years of friendship she's constantly put faith, family and Arkansas first. Now all Americans will have the opportunity to hear Republicans' vision about the path forward, which I know she'll deliver with heart and boldness. https://t.co/Z63iI0sAhp
— Senator John Boozman (@JohnBoozman) February 2, 2023
This is fantastic news. She will make us all proud. #arpx #arnews https://t.co/s4STrQn8yh
— Nick Stehle (@nstehle) February 2, 2023
A true rising star and a fantastic decision to have the Gov deliver a strong message on behalf of the GOP@KimReynoldsIA crushed it last year and @SarahHuckabee will do the same https://t.co/CrA25MB3uI
— Jesse Hunt (@JJHunt10) February 2, 2023
This will be epic! https://t.co/MgiRlnXLux
— John Nantz (@TheJohnNantz) February 2, 2023
The announcement comes less than a month after Sanders was sworn in as the first female governor of Arkansas.
“It is a pretty humbling thing,” Sanders previously said of the accomplishment, as IJR reported.
Additionally, Sanders recognized she would be following in her father’s footsteps as he served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007.
“As far as we know, we’ll be the first-ever father-daughter pair anywhere in the country, and so, you know, that is a pretty historic and amazing thing,” Sanders said.
She has already gotten to work by banning one word from being used in Arkansas government documents, as IJR reported.
Upon becoming governor, Sanders issued an executive order prohibiting the use of the term “Latinx” in the documents.
