Category Archives: Professional Notes

Farnsworth to Moderate Political Debate for Virginia’s 65th District House of Delegates

Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth, who also serves as director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, will moderate the public political debate for Virginia’s 65th District House of Delegates on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. where incumbent Joshua Cole (D) will face off against Sean Steinway (R) in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium. Other media mentions for Farnsworth include: John Reid’s pitch for civility follows years as a ‘combative conservative’ (Virginia Dogwood) Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, said as a radio host Reid was a “combative conservative” and a “vigorous cultural warrior.” Farnsworth added that it’s not unusual for candidates to moderate their rhetoric to appeal to a broader electorate after a primary battle. “Talk radio is an appealing environment for conservative messaging,” Farnsworth said in an interview. “But running for office in purple Virginia may require a narrative that is less focused on the hardcore conservatives who make up much of the talk radio audience.” Read more in Virginia Dogwood.  Republican State Senator Bryce Reeves to Challenge Mark Warner (WRIC-TV) “If you look at his previous congressional campaigns, he offers up a Republican message that is very focused on the issues of law and order,” Professor Stephen Farnsworth, Director of the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, told 8News. Read more in WRIC. Government Shutdown Mass Layoff Fears Virginia Governor Race (MSN News) “People are already anxious about the economic situation. The shutdown makes it much worse,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. Read more in MSN. Election 2025: Earle-Sears vs Spanberger race guarantees history (Virginia Business) Even without Trump’s policies disproportionately impacting Virginians, Earle-Sears would be at a disadvantage running for governor with a Republican in the White House, says Stephen Farnsworth, director of the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies. Four years ago, some observers chalked up Democratic former Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s 2021 loss to Republican Glenn Youngkin in part due to Democratic President Joe Biden’s unpopularity. “Virginians tend to show anger against whoever is in the White House,” Farnsworth says. “The key challenge with the Earle-Sears campaign is dealing with the headwinds from the Trump administration.” Read more in Virginia Business. Sen. Bryce Reeves jumps into U.S. Senate race against Warner (Richmond Times-Dispatch) “There may be more Republicans getting into the race, which is still unclear a year out,” said Steve Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. Read more in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Trump’s UN speech crafted for his supporters: Political analyst (CTV News Canada) “Well, this is very much the red meat narrative that President Trump uses to connect with his base,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Read more in CTV News. Child safety, fake news a linchpin in final campaign strategies
(Brunswick Times- Gazette) “The reality is that there is a growing incentive to put out false information if you can do so without facing consequences,” said Stephen Farnsworth, director of the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies. “Rewarded behavior is repeated behavior.” Read more in Brunswick Times- Gazette. Democrats hope to extend map, pick off more GOP House seats (Richmond Times-Dispatch) “When a party has a lot of money it can put funds into races that are a reach,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. Read more in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Farnsworth Comments on Virginia Governor’s Race for The Washington Post

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth was quoted in a Washington Post article titled “Virginia governor’s race hits high gear as referendum on Trump.” "The dynamics of the campaign are so different for each candidate that it makes sense they’d pursue very different themes,” said Farnsworth in the article. Read more in The Washington Post..
Other media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Ahead of November elections, Democrats stress-test affordability message (National Journal) “The deeper into the weeds you get in an energy conversation, the more you’re going to lose voters,” University of Mary Washington political scientist Stephen Farnsworth said. “The key issue is affordability right now. Long-term energy plans are not likely to be a pivotal question to voters.” Read more in the National Journal. ELECTION 2025: Balance of power in Va. House could be decided in Prince William (Prince William Times) This year, polls suggest Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor, has the political winds in her sails, powered by discontent over President Donald Trump’s federal job cuts and other economic challenges, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington and director of its Center For Leadership and Media Studies. Read more in the Prince William Times
Dem. James Walkinshaw wins US House special election in Virginia, Associated Press projects (WUSA 9) “This outcome demonstrates that, at least for the 11th congressional district of Virginia, all politics are national,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Read more in WUSA 9. 
Bellwether Virginia governor race enters post-Labor Day stretch (Washington Examiner) Part of the problem Earle-Sears is facing is “the challenge of running as a Republican in a state that has been significantly impacted by President Trump’s federal cutbacks,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. Read more in MSN; Washington Examiner.
Voters choose new Virginia congressman Tuesday in special election (WTOP) “There’s an old saying that all politics is local, but I really think that what you’re considering in the 11th district of Virginia is all politics is national,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. Read more in WTOP.
 

Farnsworth Comments on Virginia Governor’s Race for NBC 4 Washington

Farnsworth Comments on Virginia Governor’s Race for NBC 4 Washington Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth was quoted in an NBC 4 article titled “Spanberger, Earle-Sears contrast messaging in ads as race for Virginia governor nears.” In the article, Farnsworth analyzed shifting campaign strategies, noting that economic concerns are no longer the primary primary GOP focus. “What you see with the Republican message right now is a very powerful pivot away from the economy, focusing instead on the cultural issues that worked well for Glenn Youngkin four years ago,” he said. Read the full article at NBC 4 and MSN.
Other media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Past elections echo in governor’s race as Labor Day push begins (Richmond Times-Dispatch) But Steve Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, said the shift in the campaign’s focus shows that its previous strategy wasn’t working. “It’s tough for Republicans to run on the economy right now … hence the pivot,” Farnsworth said. “Candidates who are polling well don’t need to develop new strategies.” Read at Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Trump Revokes Secret  Service  Protection for former  Vice President Harris” (RTVI US) “I think the big uncertainty here is what level of threat she faces,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “We don’t know what the current level of threat is that she is facing, but we do know she faced a great deal of threats when she was a candidate for president last year.” See on RTVI US
  Labor Days past: When politics leapt from summer doldrums to its fall stretch run (Virginia Mercury) “So much has changed in Virginia politics over the last 25 years, and those changes all work against events like Buena Vista,” said Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. “For the dwindling Richmond press corps, it’s a very expensive proposition to make the trek. For the candidates, it’s not clear there’s a lot of value in going if there’s no coverage,” said Farnsworth who, before his 32 years as a professor, reported for the Kansas City Star. Read article at Virginia Mercury
 
Poll: Spanberger ahead, Earle-Sears closes gap (DC News Now) Dr. Stephen Farnsworth is a professor and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. Dr. Farnsworth reacts to Earle-Sears closing the gap and how each candidate should move forward with less than 100 days in the race. “Part of this has to do with Republicans coming together,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Read article at DC News Now

Farnsworth Analyzes Potential Presidential Endorsement in VA Governor Race for Yahoo News

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth was quoted in a Yahoo News article titled “Trump suggests he may endorse Earle-Sears for VA governor.” In the article, Farnsworth noted that Trump often endorses candidates he views as likely winners, and told the news outlet, “The polls are really unfavorable right now, and it might be a really difficult environment to get a full-throated endorsement.” Read the full article from Yahoo News.

Other media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Trump’s backup at Russia talks shows hesitation on quick deal (CHCH)
CHCH News Anchor Matt Ingram spoke with American Presidency and International Relations expert from the University of Washington in Virginia, Steven Farnsworth about Trump’s meeting with Putin on Friday. Farnsworth suspects Trump brought backup with him to the meeting that was originally set to be one-on-one because Secretary of State Marco Rubio will ensure a good deal for everyone involved and not settle for a quick deal. Read more in CHCH.

Host and comedian Stephen Colbert, the new “face” of the resistance against Donald Trump (20 Minutes, Paris, France)
Deprived of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert could lose his megaphone. Wherever he goes, “with Trump’s approval rating below 40% in recent US polls, there is clearly an audience for the content he offers,” notes Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and co-author of the book Late-Night in Washington: Political Humor and the American Presidency. Read more in 20 Minutes.