“Even offices that are billed as nonpartisan like school boards are becoming more partisan across the commonwealth,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “What Fairfax is doing is recognizing the partisan reality of school board races.” In N. Virginia, endorsement primaries point to increasingly politicized school boards (The Washington Post)

This spring is the first time Virginia voters have had the 45-day early voting period before a full legislature election. Voting will continue through June 17 at 5 p.m. for the June 20 primary day. “That’s a big change from the way it used to be in Virginia,” said Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor and director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies. “Where most of the votes were cast on election day, that’s just no longer the case here.” Early Voting Could Bump Lower Primary Turnout in Critical Upcoming Election (Williamsburg Yorktown Daily)

“The key issue in this contest is who can present themselves as the most compelling ideological reflection of this conservative district,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “While both candidates are conservative, the primary will be shaped by the extent to which being a combative Republican is better than being a productive Republican.”

Dels. March and Williams have already faced each other in court. Now they face off in a primary (Cardinal News)

Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor and director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies, said primary voters are looking for ways to differentiate candidates from the same party. “Impressions matter a lot in primary campaigns because voters don’t have that Democratic versus Republican partisan cue,” Farnsworth said. “What candidates often do is talk about how they are like another (elected official), implying that there may be an endorsement -- without actually saying that there is an endorsement -- when there is not.” Local GOP candidate for state delegate says opponent’s mailers falsely imply Youngkin’s endorsement (Prince William Times)

“That’s a big change from the way it used to be in Virginia,” said Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor and director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies. “Where most of the votes were cast on election day, that’s just no longer the case here.”

Early voting could bump primary turnout in critical upcoming election (The Virginian-Pilot)