Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth, who also directs the Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a lecture in Glen Allen at the Annual Conference of the American Association of University Women of Virginia. The lecture was titled, "The Changing Nature of Virginia Politics: Reviewing the Pivotal 2025 Election and the First Session of Virginia’s First Madam Governor.”
Farnsworth was a popular expert with the media recently, discussing politics with a number of regional and national outlets, including CNN, USA Today, WUSA 9, WJLA, NBC 4 News, Richmond Magazine and others. Media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Virginia voters to decide on redistricting amendment potentially shifting House balance (WUSA 9; Yahoo.com)
Political science expert Dr. Stephen Farnsworth of University of Mary Washington said based on polling, it’ still too close to tell which side will win. “Polling shows a margin of a few points and when we’re looking at an election like this in Virginia, so much will come down whether or not people can get their supporters out to participate,” said Farnsworth.
Learn more from WUSA 9.
Virginia voters to vote on measure that could determine control of Congress (WJLA)
“It seems to me that a strong turnout effort on election day can give either side a win,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “The big challenge for both the yes and the no side is to get people who will support them if they turn out to actually do soI think anybody who is not strongly committed one side or the other is likely to stay home.
Read more in WJLA.
Virginians head to polls to decide fate of proposed new congressional districts (WTOP)
“The pro messaging is very much, ‘Trump started this and Virginia is going to finish it,’” Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, told WTOP.
Read more in WTOP.
Virginia Election Day: Voters Head to the Polls (USA Today)
“This isn’t just about lines on a map—it’s about who gets heard in Washington,” said Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, political analyst and professor at the University of Mary Washington, whose insights have been featured in local coverage of the vote. “When district lines are drawn with partisan intent, communities can be split apart or packed together in ways that dilute their voice. Voters demand to understand what’s at stake beyond the ballot box.”
Read more in USA Today.
FROM THE EDITOR: Election Day Dawns on Democracy’s Rusting Hinges (FXBG Advance)
Steven Farnsworth, a professor or political science at the University of Mary Washington, told the Advance that congressional midterms typically realize “an 18-seat swing in the House and a three- or four-seat swing in the Senate.”
Read more in FXBG Advance.
Lying Liars, And Open Scumbaggery In Virginia (Daily Kos)
“This is an extraordinary amount of money, but it’s not a surprise because the stakes are so high. This could very likely determine which party controls the next Congress,” said Steve Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington.
Read more in Daily Kos.
What to expect in Virginia’s special election on redistricting (NBC 4 News)
“So, what we know from the polling is that the overall feelings of this amendment are pretty close to fifty fifty right now,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
Learn more from NBC 4 News.
Yes or No? Virginia’s redistricting fight goes down to the wire (Richmond Magazine)
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, says the outcome now hinges on how many people show up to vote on Tuesday. “Early voting has been comparable to the early voting for the governor’s race last November, but there may be a significant drop-off for Election Day voting between November of last year and April this year,” Farnsworth says. “Candidates often bring more voters to the polls than policy topics do.”
Read more in Richmond Magazine.
Why some Virginia voters find redistricting ballot question confusing (WTOP)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, said it’s generally easier for voters to focus on a particular candidate than a ballot issue, making the issue confusing for some voters. “Do you like this candidate? Do you dislike this candidate? Rather than constitutional issues,” Farnsworth said.
Learn more from WTOP.
Virginia redistricting referendum could have national implications (WTOP)
“In many ways, what happens in Virginia, may very well be the deciding factor in terms of which party controls Congress next year,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “If the amendment passes, that’s a significant advantage for Democrats going into those November 2026 midterms.
Learn more from WTOP.
Virginia’s redistricting vote is nearing a conclusion. How is it shaping up? (Almanac of American Politics)
“The ‘yes’ side has raised far more money and is spending a lot on TV ads,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political scientist. “The ‘no’ side hasn’t had as much money, and as a result has focused on social media and a few public events.”
Read more in the Almanac of American Politics.
Redistricting might not be solution Virginia voters really need, educators say (Henrico Citizen; Prince William Times)
Campaigns on both sides are spending a lot of money on advertising, according to Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at University of Mary Washington. Read more in the
Prince William Times or
Henrico Citizen.
Spanberger: Amendments, vetoes are part of the job as Virginia’s governor (The Free Lance-Star)
“The governor’s amendments have been laser-focused on building up her image as a moderate Democrat,” and “suggest Democrats in the legislature are going too far and too fast,” said Steve Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington.
Read more in The Free Lance-Star.
How a trash-talking, meme-posting great grandmother pulled Virginia into a fight that could define the midterms (CNN)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, said Virginia powerbrokers understand that if “you want something out of the legislature, figure out a way to get Sen. Lucas on board.”
Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth, who also directs UMW's Center for Leadership and Media Studies, was featured by C-SPAN in an piece titled, "Stephen Farnsworth on Virginia's Redistricting Referendum." In the piece, Farnsworth said, "What happens in Virginia may very well shape the outcome for the mid-term elections for Congress and the country as a whole.” Learn more from C-SPAN.
In addition to C-SPAN, Farnsworth shared his political expertise with a number of other media outlets, including WUSA, Newsweek, Almanac of American Politics and more.
Recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Trump’s Approval Rating Hampering 6 Republican Incumbents: GOP Polls (Newsweek)
Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, told Newsweek on Wednesday that Trump’s approval ratings, if not soon reversed, “are likely to be toxic for Republicans in swing districts.” Read more in Newsweek.
Multiple lawsuits challenge Virginia’s redistricting election. Here’s where each case stands. (Virginian Pilot)
“Right now, voters don’t know what district they’re in, and candidates don’t know what district they’re going to run in,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at University of Mary Washington. “Fortunately, the Virginia Supreme Court tends to move a lot faster than the U.S. Supreme Court, but time is clearly of the essence right now.” Read more in the Virginian Pilot.
Virginia judge blocks redistricting referendum (DC News Now)
“Well, it always seemed like this was going to be a pretty close contest,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Read more in DC News Now.
Trump’s disdain for wind projects creates a political storm for Republicans in coastal Virginia (NBC Washington)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, said front-line Republicans have been put in a difficult position. “Kiggans is not the only Republican being squeezed” as Trump focuses on his own priorities and the country faces economic headwinds exacerbated by the war with Iran, he said. Although few want to risk upsetting the president, Farnsworth said, “in coastal Virginia politics, there’s not much upside to opposing wind.” Read more in NBC Washington.
Virginia Redistricting Battle Now Goes to the Courts (RTVI News US)
“The legal question here is not whether the voting outcome was legitimate — it was — but rather whether the referendum question was properly put before the voters in the first place,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. Learn more from RTVI News US.
2 school board members are running for County Council. Will their positions haunt or help? (Baltimore Banner)
“Serving on a school board is a double-edged sword, particularly in a place like Montgomery County, where there is a lot of scrutiny,”
said University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen J. Farnsworth. Learn more in the Baltimore Banner.
Virginia redistricting win sparks jubilation, fierce criticism (WUSA; Yahoo.com)
Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, noted that the results highlight a state still deeply polarized by the influence of the Trump era. He also pointed to a missed opportunity for the Republican opposition. Read more in WUSA.
Trump’s Redistricting Push Backfires as Virginia Voters Rebuke GOP (Newsweek)
Mid-decade redistricting has accomplished “nothing” for Trump, Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, told Newsweek on Wednesday. “President Trump has lost another election in Virginia, and this one may cost Republicans their House majority this fall,” he said. Read more in Newsweek. 
Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth was featured by CTV News Canada in a piece titled "Trump Reiterates Threats if Iran Doesn't Reach Deal."
In the segment, Farnsworth said "I think this is a serious threat. It is quite clear that President Trump is willing to that President Trump is willing to use a lot of military resources to try to secure an outcome that he wants in Iran. All indications are there are some negotiations going on, but we will have to see whether or not these countries which have been so far apart for decades can reach any kind of resolution in the next 24 hours.” 