University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth said that can be beneficial for likely-vulnerable legislators like McAuliffe and Franklin, but it can cut both ways. “The big majority gives the speaker a lot more flexibility, not only to let individual lawmakers walk away from what a majority of what Democrats might want, it also gives the speaker the opportunity to kill bills from the far left that the governor doesn’t want to see on her desk,” Farnsworth warned.
Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington said Democrats are “very likely to take over the House,” citing strong candidate recruitment and Republican retirements. Farnsworth added that while Republicans may gain advantages through redistricting in some states, Democrats have countered those efforts in blue states, limiting the overall effect.
Political scientist Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington said that silence carries risks. “One of the things that we’ve learned in the world of social media is that the truth is a rare and not very highly valued commodity,” Farnsworth said. “You don’t need evidence to make a claim online, and increasingly, people don’t even care.”
Political Science Professors Larry Sabato and Stephen Farnsworth believe most of the tax increase proposals will not pass the Virginia General Assembly. “I think it’s important to note that a lot of what gets proposed in the legislature never comes to pass,” said Farnsworth, a professor with the University of Mary Washington.
Philip See sits down with Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, University of Mary Washington to talk about the state of US foreign relations in the wake of the attack on Venezuela and the capture of its President Nicolas Maduro, especially how the White House is viewing its alliances and rivalries.
Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth recently presented an online lecture, “The Second Trump Presidency: Reviewing the First Year – and Previewing the Years to Come,” to students at Maria Curie Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland. Farnsworth served as a J. William Fulbright Distinguished Scholar in Humanities and Social Sciences in Poland during 2024.
Media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Virginia prepares for historic moment as Spanberger takes office in Richmond (WTOP)
In the article by WTOP, Farnsworth said “Virginia has known that it was going to have a woman governor for the last several months, but it will be a crowning moment for Virginia politics when that day comes to pass.” See the article from WTOP.
Mark Rutte is on collision course with European capitals over NATO (Politico)
But keeping Trump sweet risks emboldening the U.S. president to be still bolder in future. “Politicians around the world and in this country ignore Trump’s ego at their peril,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at Virginia’s University of Mary Washington. See article from Politico.
‘I meant what I said’: Carney tells Trump he stands by his Davos speech (CHCH – Hamilton, Ontario)
Stephen Farnsworth—an expert in U.S. politics and the presidency—says Trump was hoping for a more favorable experience at the World Economic Forum. Stephen Farnsworth offered further context for the president’s anger, saying the Trump administration is going through a difficult period, with polling suggesting challenges ahead of the November midterm elections, and widespread controversy over the behavior of federal officials in Minnesota enforcing the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation policy. See article from CHCH.
Rutte to Trump: “Your Allies Will Be With You” (CTV News)
“Well, I think one of the big questions is what are the red lines with Donald Trump? What are the things the president will not do,” said Stephen Farnsworth. See more from CTV News.
A lack of decorum at the White House (La Presse, Montreal)
“It’s astonishing how much the discourse surrounding the intervention in Venezuela has changed in just a few days,” notes Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington in Virginia. “Initially, the focus was on combating drug trafficking, but attention quickly shifted to access to oil.” See article from La Presse.
Her Excellency (Richmond Magazine)
“I think one of the things that we’ll be seeing in this session is disagreements within the party rather than disagreements across party lines,” explains Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. See article in Richmond Magazine.
Governor Spanberger (WMAL)
“Their optimism may be very much limited by the painful fiscal reality that Virginia is facing right now,” said Farnsworth. “The big Democratic majority does not mean the Democratic Party is going to veer to the far left in Virginia,” said Farnsworth.
Glenn Youngkin positions himself for future with Vance endorsement (Washington Examiner)
“The painful reality of every Virginia governor is that they have an expiration date,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “And that creates great pressure on creating the environment for the next job. Youngkin has been effective at supporting President Trump in a way that opens possibilities for him in Washington.” See article from Washington Examiner.
