In addition, Farnsworth was quoted by WVTF in a recent segment titled “Virginia Democrats beat early primary voting record.” Farnsworth told the outlet the increase in early votes shows excitement among Democrats across the Commonwealth. “The Washington narrative that Democrats are dispirited and the activists are hopeless,” he said. “That’s just not supported by these early voting numbers in Virginia.” Read the article.

While much of the messaging will be about what Youngkin’s done during his time in office, including a record number of vetoes of measures Democratic majorities passed in the House of Delegates and state Senate, the context will be Trump’s second term, said Steve Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington.

From the segment: I was talking to Stephen Farnsworth, the political science professor at University of Mary Washington, who keeps an eye on a lot of this. He had a good line about this. He said that usually all politics are local, but that this year, he thinks that all politics are national in Virginia. https://wamu.org/story/25/06/20/the-politics-hour-democratic-nominee-for-virginia-lieutenant-governor-ghazala-hashmi-on-her-primary-win/

  How voters’ views on Trump could play into Virginia general election (NBC Washington) “The biggest challenge for Virginia Republicans is President Trump,” said Stephen Farnsworth. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/how-voters-views-on-trump-could-play-into-virginia-general-election-video/3939913/

Reaction: Virginia Primary Election (DC News Now) Dr. Stephen Farnsworth is the Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. He breaks down the election and sets the scene for the November election. https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/capitol-review/reaction-virginia-primary-election/ https://www.dcnewsnow.com/video/reaction-virginia-primary-election/10829175/

The 11th District is generally regarded as a safe Democratic seat. Connolly won his last race with more than 65% of the vote, and Kamala Harris carried it by a similar margin. Stephen Farnsworth, a politics professor at the University of Mary Washington, believes the district may lean even further left this year, “given Trump’s battles with the federal employment system.” (More than 80,000 federal workers live in the district.) https://wamu.org/story/25/06/23/fairfax-voters-head-to-the-polls-for-a-high-stakes-congressional-primary/

Political Science Professor Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington warned that delays in setting the election date can serve partisan ends. “One of the problems with vacant congressional seats is that some governors use the timing for partisan advantage,” he said. “Democrats are very likely to win the seat, and so as long as it remains vacant, that creates a slight advantage for the narrow Republican majority in Congress.”

How presidential elections impact governor’s races in Virginia (Virginia Dogwood News) “Historically in Virginia, the governor’s race a year after the presidential race is an opportunity for the team that lost control of the white house to try to win back the governor’s mansion,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington.

“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/

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