On January 25 , Representative Mark Pocan invited U.S. House candidate Randy Bryce , who is challenging Paul Ryan in the 2018 midterm elections , to the address . Representative Robin Kelly invited Illinois Attorney General candidate Kwame Raoul to attend the address , saying , " As a first-generation Haitian American , his presence and voice at the State of the Union is greatly needed , especially in light of the president 's recent racist and derogatory comments about Haiti and other nations . " On January 26 , Senator Richard Blumenthal invited a survivor of child sex trafficking to the address . On January 27 , Representative Val Demings invited a first responder to the Orlando nightclub shooting to the address . Senator Jeanne Shaheen invited to the address a woman whose son died of drug overdose
Orlando nightclub shooting
Orlando nightclub shooting
2018 State of the Union Address