Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is co-author of a book chapter, “Ridicule in Late-Night Political Humor in the United States: Contours and Consequences,” published in the Wiley Handbook of Social and Political Conflict.
Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Youngkin’s record vetoes: a new approach to executive power, analysts say (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_9930e5b0-7bb1-4c21-8f60-0eb9f1ee8cdb.html
Future of retail marijuana market in Virginia likely depends on gubernatorial election (WHRO Public Media)
Political expert Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and the director of its Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is skeptical that cannabis policy alone will drive voter turnout. However, he predicts Democrats will retain their majority in the House.
https://www.whro.org/virginia-government/2025-04-30/future-of-retail-marijuana-market-in-virginia-likely-depends-on-gubernatorial-election
President Donald Trump tests executive power in first 100 days (United Press International; Yahoo)
“The courts have already made it pretty clear that people in the country are entitled to due process, whether they’re in the country legally or not,” Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, told UPI.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/04/29/trump-first-100-days-immigration-education-tariffs/2081745948785/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/president-donald-trump-tests-executive-181348458.html
Trump marks 100 days in office of second term (CTV Canada)
“Well, nothing has been quiet at all in these 100 days. The Trump administration has reached across all kinds of policy areas, transgressed all kinds of lines in terms of the way Congress and the President usually work together and has so created an environment where there are a huge number of law suits and a huge number of questions about what happens to some of these policies going forward,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://review.bellmedia.ca/view/690263675
Youngkin asks John Reid to withdraw from Lt. Gov. race, could this impact the GOP in VA? (WJLA; Loudoun Times-Mirror)
University of Mary Washington political scientist Stephen Farnsworth said Republicans are fighting a national tide, and party infighting may cost them.
https://wjla.com/elections/virginia-lieutenant-governor-race-candidates-gop-republican-john-reid-campaign-social-media-full-interview-glenn-youngkin-winsome-sears-primary-election-day-nominee-scandal-politics-commonwealth
https://www.loudountimes.com/0local-or-not/2state/in-deepening-va-gop-crisis-reid-accuses-youngkin-pac-of-extortion/article_1e05b2c8-312d-4f89-bf17-385b67f4aae3.html
Democrats clash over approaches as party still searches for an identity (The National Desk; Komo News; WPDE; CBS Austin; KATV; ABC 45)
Strategies Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, says, point toward the 2028 presidential election officially being underway. When you’re looking at the Democratic Governor’s in particular, they’re trying to make more of a name for themselves. They’re trying to reshape the vision of the party,” said Farnsworth.
https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/democrats-clash-over-approaches-party-still-searching-for-an-identity
https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/democrats-clash-over-approaches-party-still-searching-for-an-identity
https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/democrats-clash-over-approaches-party-still-searching-for-an-identity#
https://cbsaustin.com/news/nation-world/democrats-clash-over-approaches-party-still-searching-for-an-identity
https://katv.com/news/nation-world/democrats-clash-over-approaches-party-still-searching-for-an-identity
https://abc45.com/news/nation-world/democrats-clash-over-approaches-party-still-searching-for-an-identity
Swing state GOP in explosive disarray as Republican’s PAC is accused of extortion (MSN; Virginia Mercury; Yahoo; Royal Examiner)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said the turmoil surrounding Reid’s candidacy highlights deeper challenges for Virginia Republicans heading into a critical election cycle. “The biggest challenge that you have as a first-time statewide candidate is getting your name out there in the public,” Farnsworth said. “That’s not going to be a problem for John Reid.” But, he cautioned, the downside is significant: “This controversy won’t help Reid or the Republican ticket.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/swing-state-gop-in-explosive-disarray-as-republican-s-pac-is-accused-of-extortion/ar-AA1DNtBr
https://virginiamercury.com/2025/04/28/in-deepening-va-gop-crisis-reid-accuses-youngkin-pac-of-extortion-is-a-legal-battle-ahead/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/deepening-va-gop-crisis-reid-220037292.html
https://royalexaminer.com/in-deepening-virginia-gop-crisis-reid-accuses-youngkin-pac-of-extortion-is-a-legal-battle-ahead/
Could Lt. Gov. furor give Republicans a do-over on N.Va. candidate? (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“Republicans need somebody to speak to Northern Virginia and this ticket doesn’t really have that,” said Steve Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. Youngkin’s effort to push Reid off the ticket could give Republicans a do-over with a candidate from Northern Virginia, but only if it works, Farnsworth said.
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections/article_22e38b52-9a34-4b01-9d23-603afd1ce8ba.html
Schapiro: Virginia GOP betting on a DEI ticket? (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
“Filling in the diversity box is not particularly more important for Republicans than the state of the Virginia economy this fall,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political analyst at the University of Mary Washington and director of its Center for Media and Leadership Studies.
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_6de8b963-64a4-4a06-918c-27b787663219.html
Virginia’s future retail marijuana market likely depends on gubernatorial election (Virginia Business)
Political expert Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and the director of its Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is skeptical that cannabis policy alone will drive voter turnout. However, he predicts Democrats will retain their majority in the House.
https://virginiabusiness.com/virginia-marijuana-retail-veto-youngkin-2025/
Senator Durbin’s exit seen as chance for generational shift in Democratic leadership (The National Desk; Fox 4 Beaumont; Baltimore Sun; News 4 San Antonio)
What Durbin is doing is helping create that generational shift in the party,” said Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. Farnsworth believes a big challenge the Democrats face right now is an identity crisis.
https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/se-dick-durbin-d-il-not-seeking-reelection-could-accelerate-shift-in-democratic-party-david-hogg-joe-biden-younger-democrats-activist-dnc-leaders-we-deserve#
https://fox4beaumont.com/news/nation-world/se-dick-durbin-d-il-not-seeking-reelection-could-accelerate-shift-in-democratic-party-david-hogg-joe-biden-younger-democrats-activist-dnc-leaders-we-deserve
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/04/24/durbins-exit-seen-as-chance-for-generational-shift-in-democratic-leadership/
https://news4sanantonio.com/news/nation-world/se-dick-durbin-d-il-not-seeking-reelection-could-accelerate-shift-in-democratic-party-david-hogg-joe-biden-younger-democrats-activist-dnc-leaders-we-deserve#
Va. future retail marijuana market likely depends on gubernatorial election (Virginia Scope; The Patriot; The Virginian-Pilot)
Political expert Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and the director of its Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is skeptical that cannabis policy alone will drive voter turnout. However, he predicts Democrats will retain their majority in the House.
https://www.virginiascope.com/va-future-retail-marijuana-market-likely-depends-on-gubernatorial-election/
https://pcpatriot.com/earle-sears-spanberger-split-on-cannabis-as-youngkin-vetoes-retail-sales/
https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/04/23/future-of-virginia-marijuana/