"The main challenge Virginia Democrats are facing right now is how to build up voter turnout without running against President Trump," says Stephen J. Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political science professor. "Now that he is no longer in office, the enthusiasm that powered Democratic victories in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 is going to have to be rekindled without him." If the enthusiasm gap persists through Election Day, Farnsworth says, "it could be fatal to Democrats' chances in November."
Stephen J. Farnsworth, Ph.D.
Political Science professor, focusing on the mass media, the presidency and Virginia politics
