Democrats have tapped Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin to give the rebuttal to President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.

Mr. Trump’s speech is effectively the same as a State of the Union, but that terminology isn’t used during the first year after the presidency changes hands.

Mr. Trump won Michigan by roughly 80,000 votes, just over a percentage point, and bested Democrat Kamala Harris in the other six swing states as well.

His performance helped Republicans hold onto their House majority and take control of the Senate, but wins from Democrats like Ms. Slotkin limited the GOP’s pickups.

Ms. Slotkin beat former Rep. Mike Rogers by roughly 19,000 votes, less than half a percentage point.

Ms. Slotkin said she looks forward to speaking directly to the American people in her response next week.

“The public expects leaders to level with them on what’s actually happening in our country,” she said. “From our economic security to our national security, we’ve got to chart a way forward that actually improves people’s lives in the country we all love, and I’m looking forward to laying that out.”

At age 48, Ms. Slotkin is young for a senator and 30 years younger than the 78-year-old president.

Democrats have looked to elevate more of their bench after President Joe Biden’s age and signs of decline.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, called Ms. Slotkin “a rising star” in the Democratic Party who will offer “a bold vision of hope, unity and a brighter future for everyone, not just the wealthy few at the top.”

“The American people are going to love what she has to say. She’s just great on both economic and national security,” he said. “I’m excited. I think we’re all excited.”

Ms. Slotkin served three tours in Iraq as a CIA analyst working alongside the U.S. military. She also held national security roles under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Democrat, cited Ms. Slotkin’s background as a “respected national security expert” before her election to the House in 2018 as reason she’s a good pick to give the Democrats’ rebuttal.

“She will deliver a comprehensive and clear-eyed response to the president’s joint address and communicate that Democrats are fighting to lower the cost of living and protect Social Security and Medicaid while Republicans cut taxes for their billionaire donors and Elon Musk,” he said.

Mr. Schumer and Mr. Jeffries also announced that Rep. Adriano Espaillat, New York Democrat and chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, will deliver the Spanish language response to the president’s address.

Republicans set the March 4 date for Mr. Trump’s address back in January, just five days after he was sworn into office.

“Your administration and the 119th Congress working together have the chance to make these next four years some of the most consequential in our nation’s history,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, said in his letter inviting the president to address Congress and “share your America First vision for our legislative future.”

Mr. Jeffries said during his weekly press conference on Friday that he wants Mr. Trump to answer two questions during his address.

“Why has he failed to do anything to lower the high cost of living in the United States of America, and why has the Trump administration unleashed far-right extremism on the American people in a way that represents an assault on the American way of life?” he said.

Last year’s address from former President Biden saw scattered protests from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. with some Republicans shouting “liar” at Mr. Biden, or others who scoffed at his mispronunciation of Laken Riley’s name.

Some Democrats, led by Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, flashed signs in protest of the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

Asked how he wanted to see Democrats behave on Tuesday, Mr. Jeffries deferred to House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, Massachusetts Democrat, and said she was “in conversation with members across the caucus” regarding such expectations.

Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Laken Riley’s name.

• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.

• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.