Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, and Stephen P. Hanna, professor and chair of geography, are co-authors of a review essay, “How the Democrats Won Virginia in 2013,” which was published in the Spring 2014 issue of Virginia Capitol Connections Quarterly Magazine.
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Republicans and Democrats in Virginia are hopelessly deadlocked on whether or not the state should expand Medicaid to 400,000 uninsured residents. Both sides are trying to figure out what might happen if Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe steps in to resolve the situation using executive authority.
“For Republicans, it’s win-win. The Medicaid expansion in states where it occurs helps the state economy, and the very public opposition by Republicans to Obamacare helps them win reelection,” says Stephen Farnsworth, a professor at the University of Mary Washington.
Reuters, May 20, 2014
Stephen Farnsworth, a political analyst at the University of Mary Washington, said the trial and an impasse over passage of a state budget could have serious repercussions by damaging Virginia’s reputation for clean and efficient government.
We asked two political scientists for their thoughts on presidential support ratings: Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia and Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington. They both said the high level of support by Democrats and the low level by Republicans — who have backed Obama only 46 percent of the time since 2009 — speaks to the partisanship in the Senate.
Both professors said that the rating, which tracks a relatively small number of overall votes, paints an unsophisticated picture of any congressman’s total record, including Warner’s.
Farnsworth noted that Obama did not take a position on the vast majority of bills that have come before the Senate.
“To imagine that Warner votes like a politburo member for the president would be misleading,” he said.
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