“This environment is going to be a favorable one for Democrats, all indications are, and Mark Warner is one of the people who’s going to benefit, given the timing of when his term is up for reelection,” said Stephen Farnsworth, Director of the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies.
Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth recently presented several public lectures reviewing the 2025 Virginia Elections, including presentations before the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, the American Association of University Women (Fredericksburg, VA chapter), the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg.
Field of candidates growing in DC mayoral race (WJLA)
Steve Farnsworth, PhD, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, describes Bowser’s agenda as “full” throughout her time in office. Read the full article from WJLA.
Midterm election warning signs stoke Trump lame-duck talk (Washington Examiner)
“In politics, it seems like there’s always buyer’s remorse about a year into a presidency, there’s often a great deal of dissatisfaction with what the voters decided a year earlier,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “A year in is when the opposition tends to be energized.” Read the full article from the Washington Examiner.
Trump’s warm embrace of Mamdani complicates 2026 GOP messaging (Washington Examiner)
“I imagine Republicans will continue to run against the specter of Mamdani in special elections and the midterm elections to come,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “His vision of the Democratic Party is the vision that energizes the Republican base.” Read the full article from the Washington Examiner.
U.S. Congress Votes to Force Release of Epstein Files (CTV News)
“Well, I don’t think that this signature is going to necessarily amount to all that much to be honest. There is a good chance that many of the documents that people are interested in will be withheld by the Justice Department,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Watch the full segment on YouTube.
Virginia governor-elect Spanberger aims to use carrots, not sticks to build support for new housing (Homes.com)
“Particularly in urban areas of the state, there’s been this rapid escalation in home prices,” Stephen Farnsworth, who teaches political science at the University of Mary Washington, told Homes.com. “That creates all kinds of economic uncertainty for people who want to buy a house and wonder if they’ll ever be able to.” Read the full article from Homes.com.
Virginia youth vote helped spark largest Democratic win since 1961 (The Commonwealth Times)
Stephen Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, said it can be a challenge for candidates to connect with young people as the world changes rapidly. He said Spanberger was effective in connecting with younger voters by speaking about economic anxiety. Read the full article from The Commonwealth Times.
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, described Mayor Bowser’s agenda as “full” throughout her time in office. Relations between the District and the Trump administration have been particularly challenging, he said.
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, pointed to four amendments midway through the legislative process, which he said may not have gone anywhere in the new session should the House be controlled by Republicans. “This would be removing the ban on gay marriage from the Constitution of Virginia, the automatic restoration of felon voting rights, the codification of Roe v. Wade in the Virginia Constitution, and the new redistricting amendment,” Farnsworth said.
VPAP is why anyone can “figure out what’s going on with the oceans of campaign cash flowing in the commonwealth,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political science professor and former reporter. “Any time an out-of-state reporter asks me about politics in Virginia, I make sure to direct them to VPAP.”
Stephen Farnsworth, director of the center for leadership and media studies at the University of Mary Washington, said it can be a challenge for candidates to connect with young people as the world changes rapidly and because young adults use many different social media platforms. He said Spanberger was effective in connecting with younger voters by speaking about economic anxiety.
