April 21, 2025

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Farnsworth Lectures on U.S. Federalism in U.S. State Department Program

by

Professor of Political Science and Center for Leadership and Media Studies Director Stephen Farnsworth

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a lecture, “Federalism and Separation of Powers in the United States,” to a group of international journalists participating in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program in Washington. The journalists, from 18 different nations, are participating in a three-week program focusing on learning about the U.S. political system.

In addition, recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Early in-person voting starts Friday in Virginia. Here’s what to know. (Virginia Dogwood)
It also helps campaigns understand which voters they still need to motivate to get to the polls, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “Taking care of this task ahead of time makes sure you do get to participate, regardless of what happens to mess with one’s plans on election day,” Farnsworth said. “If you vote early, party activists can concentrate on those people who have not yet voted as they don’t have to make sure you turn up on Election Day.”
https://vadogwood.com/voterhub-2024/early-in-person-voting-starts-friday-in-virginia-heres-what-to-know/
Amid internal GOP feud in the 5th District, Democrat Gloria Witt sees her chance (Raw Story; Virginia Mercury; Yahoo.com)
“A write-in campaign benefiting a defeated GOP primary candidate is certainly part of a best-case scenario for a Democratic candidate in District 5,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington.
Virginia analysts say Harris helped herself more than Trump in debate (Richmond Times-Dispatch; The Daily Progress)
“Vice President Harris was particularly effective at defining herself and keeping Trump on the defensive,” Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, wrote in an email. “Harris did more to help herself in this debate than Trump did to help himself. That may matter to a few genuinely undecided voters, but in these deeply divided times the vast majority of Americans already had their favorites in this contest — and those preferences won’t change much,” he added.
Debate between Trump and Harris will not change campaign trajectory, immigration was key in their messages: experts (Voice of America)
“The issue of immigration is a key one in this race, but neither campaign wants to be very specific about how they want to address these issues,” Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia.

Debate Puts Donald Trump’s Abortion Problem in the Spotlight (Newsweek)
Stephen Farnsworth, a Political Scientist from the University of Mary Washington, told Newsweek Trump is “in a no-win situation on abortion.” “That is why he doesn’t have a good response to the obvious question on his views regarding one of America’s most enduring policy debates,” Farnsworth said, “If he vows to sign a national abortion ban he angers those swing voters, and if he says he won’t, he angers the pro-life voters who might already have their doubts about Trump’s commitment, given his back-and-forth statements on the question.”
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-abortion-ban-debate-abortion-problem-1952109

Candidates Square Off in Philadelphia Tomorrow (CTV News)
“Well, it is clear that the key question for the Harris campaign is basically a question of definition, said Stephen Farnsworth.
Virginia analysts see high stakes seen in Trump-Harris debate (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
But any word in the debate about federal employees could have a big impact on Republican claims that Virginia is in play, University of Mary Washington political scientist Stephen Farnsworth said in an email. “Trump may need to address more specifically concerns that a Trump election would mean the wholesale firing of federal employees,” Farnsworth said.
Once-hesitant Black voters now veering toward the Kamala Harris camp (Black News & Views)
But Democrats shouldn’t read too much into survey numbers, because Nov. 5 remains months away, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. “Polls are snapshots of where things stand at a given moment,” Farnsworth said in an email. “A lot can change between now and November.”
VA election post Labor Day (WMAL)
“It looks like Virginia is not a high priority for either of the campaigns,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
Schapiro: Oracle of Charlottesville sees ’em, calls ’em (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“Over the last generation, Virginia has become an unusually interesting place politically,” said Steve Farnsworth, an analyst at the University of Mary Washington since 1996. “The change in the political environment here has created lots of opportunity for scholarly work. … Scholars are drawn to what is changing. And for a long time, Virginia wasn’t changing.”
Will Donald Trump’s Swing State Spending Gamble Pay Off? (Newsweek)
Similarly, Political Science Professor Stephen Farnsworth said Trump is “wise to concentrate” on these three states. He told Newsweek: “Polls show these three are among the closest states, and they are also places where Democratic candidates often struggle. Surveys suggest that some of the other swing states, such as Wisconsin, may be drifting away from Trump, and so the former president’s best path to 270 Electoral Votes as of now seems to be based in the East.”
A new Virginia governor candidate answers one question, but raises another (WTOP)
“This answers one of two questions that people in Virginia Republican circles wanted to know,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political-science professor with the University of Mary Washington. “The other question is whether Miyares is going to seek the Republican nomination as well or consider other options.”
Saving face: The real reasons behind Mark Zuckerberg’s physical and political evolution (Washington Examiner)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at Mary Washington University, told the Washington Examiner he agrees. “His latest apologetic comments are part of trying to curry favor with Republicans in case Trump and congressional Republicans win the upcoming election,” Farnsworth said. “Angry Republicans can be very bad for business, particularly if Trump wins and tries to punish Meta next year.