Stephen Farnsworth at the University of Mary Washington says the battleground districts are largely in outer ring suburban communities, where elections are won and lost in Virginia.
“These are contested spaces, these outer ring suburban counties,” Farnsworth says. “They’re not rural. They’re not really urban. But they are places where both parties often can be competitive.”
“To describe the Republican rally as a unity rally requires a very flexible definition of unity,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “The party candidates barely appeared on stage together, did not have a lot to say about each other, and generally have a kind of problematic history for imagining that they’re going to be able to work together this fall.”
"I think it is very important to remember that there is not much either of the candidates can do or say that has all that much of an impact in a district that is overwhelmingly democratic in its orientation," said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington.
Special Election set in Virginia’s 11th District (DC News Now)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that part of Youngkin’s success in 2021 came from his status as a political newcomer. With little to no record to answer for, the businessman turned politician was able to shape his stances on topics such as education as he went. “Youngkin was something of a blank slate,” Farnsworth said. “People could imagine Youngkin in a variety of ways, because he was such an unknown. Miyares doesn’t have that option. He’s been attorney general for four years.”
Virginia’s top prosecutor targets drugs, crime — and Northern Va. schools (The Washington Post) 
Lucky 13 is the target number of seats this year for Democrats, who are hoping to flip the districts from red to blue. Stephen Farnsworth at the University of Mary Washington says the battleground is suburban. "They're often in outer ring suburban communities, particularly in the Richmond and Hampton Roads area where elections are won and lost in Virginia. These are contested spaces, these outer ring suburban counties," Farnsworth says. "They're not rural. They're not really urban. But they are places where both parties often can be competitive."
Virginia Democrats are eyeing 13 potential seats that could flip blue this year (WVTF) 
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, said that President Trump has not said which nations will be receiving tariff letters on Monday. Canada may not be on the list of a dozen nations singled out by the president because of recent concessions on trade, or it may be on the list because US-Canada trade has been a priority of the president. “President Trump likes to keep people, and nations, guessing about what he will do next,” Farnsworth said.
