New Delhi, Feb. 24 -- Democrats have chosen Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger to deliver the party's official response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, elevating a former intelligence officer turned swing-state leader to a national platform.

Born on August 7, 1979, in New Jersey, Spanberger moved frequently as a child before her family settled in Virginia. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she later earned an MBA through a joint program between GISMA Business School and Purdue University.

Spanberger began her career in federal service, working as a postal inspector before joining the Central Intelligence Agency in 2006 as a case officer. During her tenure, she focused on counterterrorism and nuclear pro...