“This environment is going to be a favorable one for Democrats, all indications are, and Mark Warner is one of the people who’s going to benefit, given the timing of when his term is up for reelection,” said Stephen Farnsworth, Director of the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies.
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, described Mayor Bowser’s agenda as “full” throughout her time in office. Relations between the District and the Trump administration have been particularly challenging, he said.
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, pointed to four amendments midway through the legislative process, which he said may not have gone anywhere in the new session should the House be controlled by Republicans. “This would be removing the ban on gay marriage from the Constitution of Virginia, the automatic restoration of felon voting rights, the codification of Roe v. Wade in the Virginia Constitution, and the new redistricting amendment,” Farnsworth said.
VPAP is why anyone can “figure out what’s going on with the oceans of campaign cash flowing in the commonwealth,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political science professor and former reporter. “Any time an out-of-state reporter asks me about politics in Virginia, I make sure to direct them to VPAP.”
Stephen Farnsworth, director of the center for leadership and media studies at the University of Mary Washington, said it can be a challenge for candidates to connect with young people as the world changes rapidly and because young adults use many different social media platforms. He said Spanberger was effective in connecting with younger voters by speaking about economic anxiety.
The panel, moderated by VA FREE Executive Director and former delegate Chris Saxman, included McGuireWoods Senior VP of Infrastructure and Economic Development and Government Relations Services Tracy Baynard, University of Mary Washington Director for the Center for Leadership and Media Studie Stephen Farnsworth, RAMA International Director and former delegate David Ramadan and Sen. Kannan Srinivasan (D-32).
