State of the Union viewers share their reaction

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-Democratic Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) watched the State of the Union in-person and without a mask for a change.

Rep. Carbajal said the speech, that included a push for making things in America, should leave people with a sense of optimism.

"President Biden assured us tonight that we are also ready to tackle today's challenges, rising food, and gas prices, Russia's aggression in Ukraine, the supply chain issues in our ports, and in our trucking industry, and addressing climate change head on," said Carbajal.

He said President Biden and Congress are working together to achieve solutions to make sure there is economic prosperity for the American people.

California Republican Party Treasurer Gregory Gandrud made a point of watching the State of the Union and then shared his reaction.

"I think President Biden really missed an opportunity to unite the American people, and instead gave a speech that was naive deeply partisan and divisive, while Americans continue suffering from rampant inflation and sky high gas prices Biden's team continues trying to let all the criminals out of jail and he has left our borders insecure" said Gandrud.

But others who watched and listened like what they heard.

A woman doing errands after the speech said she thought it was positive and uplifting, but she noticed he had more support from Democrats than Republicans.

Lance Hayball of Santa Barbara said he watched it streaming on his cell phone.

"I think Biden is still wrong on what he has done taking care of all this, I think Ukraine has a really rough way to go and I don't think the Republicans are giving us enough answers either."

Hayball said he wants America to be united.

Biden attempted to unite his audience by laying out a "Unity Agenda."

He said that agenda includes uniting to beat the opioid epidemic, to take on mental health, to support Veterans and to end cancer.