Farnsworth Featured by C-SPAN, Newsweek & More

Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth, who also directs UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, was featured by C-SPAN in an piece titled, “Stephen Farnsworth on Virginia’s Redistricting Referendum.” In the piece, Farnsworth said, “Well, what happens in Virginia may very well shape the outcome for the mid-term elections for Congress and the country as a whole.” Learn more from C-SPAN.

In addition to C-SPAN, Farnsworth shared his political expertise with a number of other media outlets, including WUSA, Newsweek, Almanac of American Politics and more. Recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Trump’s disgust with wind power causes political storms, and Republican coastal constituencies are in a dilemma (Bastille Post; Dredgewire; Bluewin)
Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, pointed out that frontline Republicans are in trouble. He said that as Trump focuses on his priorities and the country faces economic headwinds from the war with Iran, “Kiggans is not the only Republican under pressure.” Stephen Farnsworth continued that although few people are willing to take the risk of angering the president, “opposing wind power is not very good in Virginia’s coastal politics.” Read more in Bastille Post, Dredgewire or Bluewin.

Trump’s Approval Rating Hampering 6 Republican Incumbents: GOP Polls (Newsweek)
Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, told Newsweek on Wednesday that Trump’s approval ratings, if not soon reversed, “are likely to be toxic for Republicans in swing districts.” Read more in Newsweek.

Multiple lawsuits challenge Virginia’s redistricting election. Here’s where each case stands. (Virginian Pilot)
“Right now, voters don’t know what district they’re in, and candidates don’t know what district they’re going to run in,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at University of Mary Washington. “Fortunately, the Virginia Supreme Court tends to move a lot faster than the U.S. Supreme Court, but time is clearly of the essence right now.” Read more in the Virginian Pilot.

Virginia judge blocks redistricting referendum (DC News Now)
“Well, it always seemed like this was going to be a pretty close contest,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Read more in DC News Now.

Trump’s disdain for wind projects creates a political storm for Republicans in coastal Virginia (NBC Washington; San Francisco Chronicle; The Advertiser-Tribune; Fortune; MSN)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, said front-line Republicans have been put in a difficult position. “Kiggans is not the only Republican being squeezed” as Trump focuses on his own priorities and the country faces economic headwinds exacerbated by the war with Iran, he said. Although few want to risk upsetting the president, Farnsworth said, “in coastal Virginia politics, there’s not much upside to opposing wind.” Read more in NBC Washington, San Francisco Chronicle, The Advertiser-Tribune, Fortune or MSN)

Virginia Redistricting Battle Now Goes to the Courts (RTVI News US)
“The legal question here is not whether the voting outcome was legitimate — it was — but rather whether the referendum question was properly put before the voters in the first place,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. Learn more from RTVI News US.

2 school board members are running for County Council. Will their positions haunt or help? (Baltimore Banner)
“Serving on a school board is a double-edged sword, particularly in a place like Montgomery County, where there is a lot of scrutiny,”
said University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen J. Farnsworth. Learn more in the Baltimore Banner.

Virginia redistricting win sparks jubilation, fierce criticism (WUSA; Yahoo.com)
Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, noted that the results highlight a state still deeply polarized by the influence of the Trump era. He also pointed to a missed opportunity for the Republican opposition. Read more in WUSA.

Trump’s Redistricting Push Backfires as Virginia Voters Rebuke GOP (Newsweek)
Mid-decade redistricting has accomplished “nothing” for Trump, Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, told Newsweek on Wednesday. “President Trump has lost another election in Virginia, and this one may cost Republicans their House majority this fall,” he said. Read more in Newsweek.

Virginia approves pro-Democratic redistricting, by slimmer margin (Almanac of American Politics)
“President Trump has lost another election in Virginia, and this one may cost Republicans their House majority this fall,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political scientist. “Virginia had passed a previous constitutional amendment to end gerrymandering not that long ago, and the argument to reverse that decision in light of the re-redistricting pushed by President Trump in Texas and elsewhere was not the easiest case to make to voters.” Learn more in the Almanac of American Politics.

Comparing Virginia’s redistricting vote to gubernatorial election (NBC 4 News)
“This looks to be quite a bit closer than the governor’s election last November,” said Stephen Farnsworth. Learn more from NBC 4 News.