Abigail Spanberger, the first female governor in Virginia's history, will give the Democrats' response to US President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address since returning to the White House.
Trump is set to deliver the speech on Tuesday night, and after his remarks Americans will hear from Spanberger.
The rebuttal - first delivered in 1966 - is traditionally given by a rising star in the opposing party.
Spanberger, 46, was elected as Virginia's governor in November after serving in Congress and working as a CIA officer.
In a statement, Spanberger said: "We are at a defining moment in our nation's history. Virginians and Americans across the country are contending with rising costs, chaos in their communities, and a real fear of what each day might bring."
