Category Archives: Professional Notes

Farnsworth Co-authors Book Chapter on Political Humor

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is coauthor of a book chapter, “Ridicule in Late-Night Political Humor in the United States: Contours and Consequences,” published in the Wiley Handbook of Social and Political Conflict.   Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Virginia GOP: John Reid Controversy (DC News Now)
“Well, for Virginia Republicans, this is bad news on top of that,” said Stephe Farnsworth.
https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/capitol-review/virginia-gop-john-reid-controversy/
Youngkin’s record vetoes: a new approach to executive power, analysts say (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
In a way, the difference between Youngkin’s use of vetoes and the approach of earlier governors mirrors what’s been happening over the years in national politics, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. And in Virginia, he said, “Two things explain this trend: first is the growing Washingtonization, as Democrats and Republicans are increasingly distant from each other … the second is a move to outsiders in executive positions.” https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_9930e5b0-7bb1-4c21-8f60-0eb9f1ee8cdb.htmlFuture of retail marijuana market in Virginia likely depends on gubernatorial election (WHRO Public Media) Political expert Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and the director of its Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is skeptical that cannabis policy alone will drive voter turnout. However, he predicts Democrats will retain their majority in the House. https://www.whro.org/virginia-government/2025-04-30/future-of-retail-marijuana-market-in-virginia-likely-depends-on-gubernatorial-election

Farnsworth Lectures on Trump’s Public Policy Shifts

Farnsworth Lectures on Trump’s Public Policy Shifts Professor of Political Science and director of the UMW's Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth recently presented a lecture, "The Policy Consequences of the 2024 Presidential Election (so far)," before the Fredericksburg area chapter of the American Association of University Women.
Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Democrats’ identity crisis: Youth revolt rocks party after Trump comeback (Yahoo News; WFIN; Total News)
“Beating the other side is more important to many voters [rather] than who exactly is representing your own team,” said University of Mary Washington political scientist Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/democrats-identity-crisis-youth-revolt-150905982.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAK9axsT2bFmg-O51tNrCh6fOOOF1fRYTV5BK_9_sFkdSu_iDFgdh_QgV4lm5bXMggK4oR6O2jbftpk8xMAuwHe5RLIG8r9GgyZqQpViBhq4q0mWmoZJKorBTNFPEfo9LQIdylgHBmf5d1FeFK3pVWV0jbJSlbGl4qzS7kxjj0S
  In Trump’s America, women trade progressive politics for pearls for the ‘tradwife’ idyll (The Straits Times Singapore) Political science professor Stephen Farnsworth from the University of Mary Washington, and author of Presidential Communication And Character, said: “Politicians who are familiar with or supportive of the tradwife movement can build a devoted following among those adherents because these politicians are demonstrating that they understand and can connect with that element of the voting public. Paying attention to those communities, particularly energised ones, is becoming increasingly the reality of politics in this country. If you don’t reach out to your most energised potential supporters, you are undermining your ability to win a party nomination.” https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/in-trumps-america-women-trade-progressive-politics-for-pearls-for-the-tradwife-idyll
Virginia candidates raise over $20 million as 2025 election season heats up (The Northern Virginia Daily) “I think it’s important to note that that funding gap will narrow now that the legislative session is over,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “Now that the lieutenant governor is a Republican nominee, I imagine some Republicans were waiting for a resolution of the nomination process before weighing in with donations.” https://www.nvdaily.com/virginia-candidates-raise-over-20-million-as-2025-election-season-heats-up/article_bba30fc4-486b-5a42-95ad-45949fc4b113.html
Democrats appear to turn on each other as generational divide brews within the party (Fox News) “Beating the other side is more important to many voters than who exactly is representing their own team,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6371619214112
Virginia Democrats reap fundraising gains as they center campaigns around Elon Musk (AP News) “Virginia elections are often about angry voters, and the most angry group of voters is the party who lost the White House the year before,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “Democrats are angry, and they’re putting their money where their irritation is.” https://apnews.com/article/virginia-elections-donors-report-elon-musk-8ee4a569bc5a043cbd21f3d8c2d4f0fe
‘I hope they just maul each other;’ Virginia’s 2025 election season gets underway (WVTF) There are a small number of primaries for House of Delegates seats, but the total number of down ballot races in November could benefit those at the top, says University of Mary Washington professor Steven Farnsworth. “If you run a party candidate in as many districts as possible, you’ll increase the turnout,” Farnsworth said. “That can help the candidates for governor.” https://www.wvtf.org/news/2025-04-16/i-hope-they-just-maul-each-other-virginias-2025-election-season-get-underway
 

Farnsworth Delivers Research Paper on Political Humor

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies recently presented a co-authored research paper titled “Patterns of Political Ridicule in Late-Night Political Humor in the United States" at the Character Assassination and Reputation Politics (CARP) Conference at George Mason University.     In addition, recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Why a GOP primary challenge is upending Virginia’s governor race (Washington Examiner)
“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.”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/state/3370284/virginia-governor-race-winsome-earle-sears-primary-challenger/ Trump looms large as Virginia turns to election season (Daily Progress) Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that in the campaigns to come “Democrats will make Trump the first name of every Republican who’s on the ballot.” https://dailyprogress.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections/article_fac18b3d-e19d-5dbf-985b-52eeb1808d7d.html#tracking-source=home-top-story
Democrats’ pivot back to class warfare sees early returns in Wisconsin (Washington Examiner)
“Angry voters are more likely to turn out, and that benefited Republicans during the Biden years, and it’s benefiting Democrats during the Trump years,” Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, said. “What’s particularly interesting about 2025 is that Democrats are also able to use Elon Musk as the villain.” Farnsworth said that he sees a pivot, at least in Wisconsin, to an “anti-oligarch” narrative.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/3368733/democrats-class-warfare-campaigns-susan-crawford-trump-musk-wisconsin/
Virginia General Assembly reconvenes to address Gov. Youngkin’s amendments (WUSA)
“The main thing you saw in session and will see in the veto session today is an environment where people are just kicking the can down the road,” said political science expert Dr. Stephen Farnsworth. “Democrats and Republicans are mainly interested in bringing forward issues they want to campaign on in November.”
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/politics/virginia-general-assembly-reconvenes-address-glenn-youngkin-amendments/65-fb4bef27-351c-4710-af92-875f1e3df13a
 
 

Farnsworth Lectures on Disinformation to Sciences Po University in Paris, France

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a guest online lecture, "Disinformation in U.S. Presidential Elections," to Sciences Po University, Paris, France. The talk was derived from portions of Dr. Farnsworth's recently published co-authored book, Producing News in a Time of Disinformation: Information Evaluation Strategies for Journalists and News Consumers.     In addition, other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Experts Warn Federal Job Cuts Could Ripple Through Prince William Economy (Potomac Local)
The panel, moderated by University of Mary Washington political science professor Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, focused on the sweeping changes being proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal initiative aiming to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending.
https://www.potomaclocal.com/2025/03/22/experts-warn-federal-job-cuts-could-ripple-through-prince-william-economy/ Political expert weighs in on Trump-Putin call, partial Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deal (CHCH) “Well, I do think it is a good start in what has been a horrific war on both sides,” said Stephen Farnsworth. https://www.chch.com/chch-news/political-expert-weighs-in-on-trump-putin-call-partial-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-deal/
Virginia statewide candidates submit signatures to get on the ballot (WVTF) Spanberger submitted twice the number of signatures that Sears did — 40,000 to 20,000. But University of Mary Washington Political Science professor Steven Farnsworth said that may speak more to Virginia Republicans’ preference for conventions and other systems to pick their nominees instead of an open primary; they just don’t have the signature collection infrastructure that Democrats do. But he doesn’t think the number of signatures is all that important anyway. https://www.wvtf.org/news/2025-03-17/virginia-statewide-candidates-submit-signatures-to-get-on-the-ballot
Democrats start angling for 2028 and experimenting with new approaches to voters (The Washington Times) “The Democrats have a significant challenge right now in finding out what the party stands for,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “That may be a debate that continues into the 2028 Democratic nomination contests.” https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/18/democrats-start-angling-2028-experimenting-new-approaches-voters/
Trump used to be kryptonite for GOP in Virginia, but not this year (The Washington Post) RICHMOND — In a Virginia election year, it might seem as though the Trump administration’s efforts to slash the federal workforce and gut federal spending would create stiff headwinds for the president’s fellow Republicans who are running for governor. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/03/17/virginia-trump-youngkin-maga-winsome/
  Democrats Seize on Enthusiasm Gap in 2025 Virginia House Races (Virginia Mercury; News on the Neck) But Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, also sees the surge of Democratic candidates in Virginia’s 2025 elections as part of a broader trend fueled by voter anger and dissatisfaction with the party in power. “Virginia elections are all about angry voters,” Farnsworth said. “The party that loses the White House is energized for elections the following year in a way that the party that won the White House is not so energized. Democrats in 2017 had a recruitment bonanza with many motivated candidates requiring many primaries. It looks like 2025 is also going to be a peak year for Democrats running for office.” https://virginiamercury.com/2025/03/13/democrats-seize-on-enthusiasm-gap-in-2025-virginia-house-races/
Virginia’s Major Political Parties Both Enter 2025 Election With New Leadership (WVTF) With all 100 House of Delegates seats and the Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General’s offices on the line, University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth said both parties want to make an example out of Virginia ahead of 2026. https://www.wvtf.org/news/2025-03-12/virginias-major-political-parties-both-enter-2025-election-with-new-leadership

Farnsworth Lectures on Disinformation in US Politics

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a guest online lecture, “Disinformation Discourse in U.S. Politics," to students at Montclair State University in New Jersey. The talk was derived from portions of Dr. Farnsworth's recently published co-authored book, Producing News in a Time of Disinformation: Information Evaluation Strategies for Journalists.

 

In addition, other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Might Trump change the law to run for a third term? (The Independent UK)
“There is zero chance the Constitution will be amended in time for Donald Trump to see a revised version,” Dr. Stephen J. Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, told The Independent. “It is very hard to change the Constitution."
Read the article.

Virginia’s legislative session is over. Here’s what’s headed to Youngkin (Daily Press)
“Virginia politics today is very different than a generation ago,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington.
https://www.dailypress.com/2025/02/28/virginia-general-assembly-bills-youngkin-sign-veto/
Tensions escalate as Trump and Zelenskyy clash at White House (CHCH TV Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)
“Well, this is really pretty unprecedented. If you look at the way that publicly leaders intereat with each other, even enemies or potential adversaries do not level this kind of verbal combat against each other,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington.
https://www.chch.com/chch-news/tensions-escalate-as-trump-and-zelenskyy-clash-at-white-house/
Commentary: In fight against Trump, D.C. Dems should look to Richmond (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
In the legislative session that concluded Feb. 22, Virginia’s Democratic lawmakers demonstrated that they have something to teach Democratic members of the U.S. Congress about shaping public discourse, promoting their party and fighting back against executive branch power.
https://richmond.com/opinion/column/article_f08507e6-f523-11ef-9ad9-87efdc8df0ba.html
Does the number of bills a Virginia delegate passed matter in this fall’s election? (WVTF)
University of Mary Washington political science Professor Stephen Farnsworth said getting bills passed, or not passed, can be a campaign message either way. “You can claim credit for introducing an idea even if it goes nowhere,” he said. “And you can blame the other side for standing in the way.”
https://www.wvtf.org/news/2025-03-03/does-the-number-of-bills-a-virginia-delegate-passed-matter-in-this-falls-election

Farnsworth Receives Fourth Faculty Fulbright Award

UMW Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth has been named a 2025 Fulbright Faculty Specialist to teach and share his professional expertise overseas. Farnsworth, who also directs the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at UMW, will travel to Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus to serve this Fulbright assignment in summer 2025 to lecture on U.S. politics and assist in the development of political science courses.

The Fulbright Program, a U.S. flagship program of international educational and cultural exchange, offers accomplished students and scholars in more than 160 countries the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to mutual understanding. Talented scholars, educators and professionals from all backgrounds utilize Fulbright opportunities to innovate and contribute to finding solutions to challenges facing our communities and our world.

This is Farnsworth’s fourth professional Fulbright award. He previously served as a Distinguished Scholar in Humanities and Social Sciences at University of Warsaw, Poland (2024), as a Fulbright Faculty Specialist at Methodist College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2019), and as a Canada-U.S. Research Chair in Public Policy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (2006-2007).

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to interact later this year with students and faculty at Near East University in Cyprus under the Fulbright Specialist program,” said Farnsworth. “I find that people around the world have a deep interest in what is going on in the U.S., and I am honored to be part of those international conversations about U.S. politics and government.”