According to Stephen Farnsworth, the director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington and co-author of Late Night with Trump: Political Humor and the American Presidency, there was another reason for the shift in attitude: ratings.

Late Night Goes Soft on Biden (Politico)

“The only important thing that the legislature really did is the one thing they have to do: Pass a budget,” says Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington who has tracked the state legislature for decades. “This is a session that would qualify as one of the more forgettable ones.” 

Not with a bang, but a whimper (Virginia Business)

Professor Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington tells FOX 5 he believes Youngkin is a serious vice-presidential contender. "It makes a lot of sense for Glenn Youngkin, I think, to be considered seriously because THE key issue for Donald Trump in think is winning again," Farnsworth said. "It is important to note that Youngkin is an early endorser of the former President and has not done the sort of things to make an enemy of Donald Trump that some other Republicans in Virginia have done." 

Could Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin be Trump’s pick for VP? (FOX 5 Washington)

“The reality is that if McGuire wins, it will be Trump that made the difference,” said University of Mary Washington Political Science Professor Stephen Farnsworth. “The last hours of the campaign, you saw Trump go all in on this race, in part because for Trump, a lot of politics is personal, and when Congressman Good decided to back Ron DeSantis against Donald Trump in the Republican presidential nomination, well, Good created a target on his back as far as Donald Trump was concerned.”

Key takeaways from the 2024 Virginia primary election results (WJLA)

"An advantage in terms of endorsements from top Democrats, the funding advantage that he has in terms of ability to raise money and the fact he has a name that is well-known — that puts him in a position to be better-known than the other candidates," said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington.

Eugene Vindman projected to win Democratic nomination, Derrick Anderson to win GOP in Virginia’s 7th district primary (NBC Washington)

“It’s a rare opportunity for Democrats to see an open congressional seat in the Washington suburbs, and that means that you have a huge field and a huge amount of money being spent,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “This may end up being one of the most expensive Democratic congressional primaries in the history of Virginia.”

Virginia’s 10th Congressional District primary is getting expensive (VPN)