Political scientist Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington sees this as part of a larger trend. He said when parties become more ideologically rigid, lawmakers from swing districts can start to feel squeezed. “This is a constant problem,” Farnsworth said. “For years, Congress had what they called the Blue Dog Caucus, where more moderate Democrats tried to chart a different course than the party leadership.”
By Stephen Farnsworth and Anders Barretta
Republicans seeking to win the Virginia gubernatorial election this November certainly have been making things harder for themselves.
Washington Republicans often complicate gubernatorial election years for their fellow partisans, and this year is no exception. In the past, Virginia Republicans faced congressionally debated — or mandated — federal government shutdowns and cutbacks. But none of these past hurdles can compare to the impacts of President Trump’s sweeping cutbacks and the widespread economic uncertainty of federal workers and contractors this year.
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, said the absence of a gubernatorial primary gives both major candidates a strategic edge heading into November. “This is the best case scenario for both of the candidates,” Farnsworth said.
“Virginia voters usually rally behind the party that lost the White House in greater numbers when they vote for governor a year later,” said Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, the director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington.
“The [election-year] legislative session always sets a template for what both parties will campaign on,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “Democrats can point to things they wanted to do and couldn’t because of the vetoes and Republicans to the things the Democrats wanted that were vetoed.”
Trump looms large as Virginia turns to election season (Daily Progress) “Donald Trump’s name will not appear on the Virginia ballot, but the reality is the gubernatorial race this year will be all about President Trump,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “Democrats will bring up the president at every opportunity, given his unpopularity in the commonwealth as a way of motivating the Democratic base.”
Why a GOP primary challenge is upending Virginia’s governor race (Washington Examiner) 