Category Archives: Center for Leadership and Media Studies

No matter who controls Virginia’s legislature, redistricting reform must continue (Opinion Column, Washington Post)

By Stephen J. Farnsworth and Kate Seltzer
Opinion Column, Washington Post, Oct. 27, 2019

One of the biggest questions in Virginia politics these days is whether the proposed constitutional amendment to block partisan gerrymandering will ever get to the voters.

If Republicans lose their narrow majorities in the House of Delegates and the Senate next month, Democrats will have complete control of drawing the lines for legislative districts following the 2020 Census. If that happens, would Democrats abandon efforts that seemed so appealing when they were in the minority?

Link to column

Farnsworth and Seltzer ’21 Publish Opinion Column in the Washington Post

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies, and Kate Seltzer ’21, a double major in political science and communication at UMW and a research associate at the center, recently published a column in The Washington Post entitled “No matter who controls Virginia’s legislature, redistricting reform must continue."

Farnsworth and Seltzer ’21 Publish Opinion Column in the Washington Post

Reeves and Laufer Debate for 17th District Senate Seat Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.

On Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m., Republican incumbent Sen. Bryce Reeves will share the podium with Democrat Amy Laufer in the race for the District 17 seat in the Virginia Senate. The 17th District Senate Debate will be held in Monroe Hall, Room 116, on UMW's Fredericksburg Campus. The post Reeves and Laufer Debate for 17th District Senate Seat Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. appeared first on EagleEye.

Farnsworth Lectures on Presidential Communication at American University

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, delivered an invited lecture at American University in Washington entitled “The Presidential Communication Strategies of Donald Trump.” The talk was drawn from his book, Presidential Communication and Character: White House News Management from Clinton and Cable to Twitter and Trump. The post Farnsworth Lectures on Presidential Communication at American University appeared first on EagleEye.

Farnsworth Comments in the National News

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies, has been quoted in several regional and national news stories: Gun policy gets its biggest political test in the Virginia Beach district that suffered mass shooting (The Washington Post) Virginia in the Crosshairs (U.S. News & World Report) Turkey to Suspend Syria Offensive (CTV News Canada)

As Talk Of Impeachment Dominates, Politics Stay Local In Virginia (WAMU)

Nationwide, recent polls show public opinion shifting in favor of impeachment. Political scientist Stephen Farnsworth at the University of Mary Washington says that could be a problem for the GOP in local races. “The opportunity to get out from under the conversation about Donald Trump has been a real challenge, and that creates a very difficult environment for Republicans regardless of their own personal ideologies,” Farnsworth says.

Link to report