Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented an online lecture, “President Biden’s Struggle to Shape the Political Narrative: White House Communication in Contentious Times,” to students at McGill University in Montreal. The talk drew on Professor Farnsworth’s book, “Presidential Communication and Character,” published by Routeldge. Dr. Farnsworth previously served as a Canada-US Fulbright Scholar at McGill.
Other recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
How a government shutdown would affect Virginia (AXIOS)
“Republicans in Congress are making it harder for Republicans in Virginia to win,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “Taking away someone’s paycheck, even temporarily, is a major source of anxiety.”
https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/09/28/how-government-shutdown-impact-virginia
Poll: Virginia Elections Extremely Close As Schools, Reproductive Rights Hang In Balance (Virginia Dogwood)
“Virginia has rapidly returned to its purple state status,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at UMW. “This new statewide survey shows that Virginia’s voters are basically evenly divided as they approach the upcoming Virginia legislative elections.”
https://vadogwood.com/2023/09/28/poll-virginia-elections-extremely-close-as-schools-reproductive-rights-hang-in-balance/
Virginia Republicans Are Sh*tting Their Pants Over The Threat Of A GOP Government Shutdown (Daily Kos)
“Republicans in Congress are making it harder for Republicans in Virginia to win,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at University of Mary Washington. “Taking away someone’s paycheck, even temporarily, is a major source of anxiety.”
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/27/2195844/-Virginia-Republicans-Are-Sh-tting-Their-Pants-Over-The-Threat-Of-A-GOP-Government-Shutdown
Virginia Republicans are being dishonest about plans to ban abortion next year (American Independent)
A University of Mary Washington poll released Wednesday may explain why Republicans are misleading voters. The survey found that 40% of Virginia adults prefer Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, while 37% favor Republican control. The same poll found that 57% of Virginians believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases and 35% said it should be illegal all or most of the time.
https://americanindependent.com/virginia-republicans-are-being-dishonest-about-plans-to-ban-abortion-next-year/
Virginia’s Public Schools Receive Positive Marks in Statewide Survey: Education and Safety Rated Highly (Bollyinside)
A recent statewide survey conducted by the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington reveals that Virginians have generally positive views of their local public-school districts.
https://www.bollyinside.com/news/education/virginias-public-schools-receive-positive-marks-in-statewide-survey-education-and-safety-rated-highly/
The WaPo’s Infatuation with Glenn Youngkin Continues. (Blue Virginia)
Remember, Youngkin is one of the least popular Virginia governors in decades (ever?), with yesterday’s University of Mary Washington poll estimating his approval at just 40%-37%, which is…not good.
https://bluevirginia.us/2023/09/the-wapos-infatuation-with-glenn-youngkin-continues-now-theyre-reporting-on-a-presidential-campaign-draft-movement-and-an-upcoming-red-vest-retreat-lol-for-glenn-youngkin
Youngkin’s 2024 tightrope walk depends on Va. elections (Virginia Business)
“For the governor, the stakes couldn’t be higher,” says Stephen Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political scientist. “His ability to make the case for his political future is going to depend on what he can do in the next two years. If Democrats end up with either of the two chambers, the final years of Youngkin’s term will be just as frustrating as the first two.”
https://www.virginiabusiness.com/article/youngkins-2024-tightrope-walk-depends-on-va-elections/
Poll shows Virginia voters closely divided, but abortion, education policies are top issues (The Virginian-Pilot; Yahoo News)
“In many ways, Hampton Roads is the purplest part of purple Virginia,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and the center’s director.
https://www.pilotonline.com/2023/09/28/poll-shows-virginia-voters-closely-divided-but-abortion-education-policies-are-top-issues/
https://news.yahoo.com/poll-shows-virginia-voters-closely-215300059.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90cmFuc2l0aW9uLm1lbHR3YXRlci5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGyDQiuRkp4XI54qUZRsJeREn9J3FW8h__wRb69hpstQ7qzDmdE1fZsKzj3g40lcdB9_zrO54q2uRrVOXndEmoC7x3j7bNX2NgSrfa_buRAlRqmtbZZJMrmhFHryw73FYqXUMhVXhITgLwfB_MHILrBGVjdsCNNBI0PJpMRRBHY
University of Mary Washington poll shows Virginia legislative elections 50-50 (WINA News Radio)
Center Director Stephen Farnsworth notes among 771 likely voters who responded… Virginia is back to a purple state after flirting with a period of being blue with 42-percent wanting a Republican majority legislature… and 42-percent wanting Democrats in control.
https://wina.com/news/064460-university-of-mary-washington-poll-shows-virginia-legislative-elections-50-50/
Battlefield Virginia-Abortion, party control at stake in legislative races (Virginia Business)
With both parties eager to motivate voters, competitive races are hinging largely on negative campaigning, says political analyst Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington and a longtime observer of the legislature. “The key thing is getting your base out,” Farnsworth says. “The demonization of the other side is a tried-and-true strategy for getting your voters to actually turn out, and the way that’s done is to create sort of funhouse mirror images of the opposing party.”
https://www.virginiabusiness.com/article/battlefield-virginia/
UMW poll shows Virginia “has rapidly returned to purple state status” (The Free Lance-Star; Loudoun Times; Culpeper Star-Exponent; WMAL; The Roanoke Times)
“Virginia has rapidly returned to its purple state status,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at UMW and the Center’s director, in a press release issued by the university about the survey results. The statewide survey of 1,000 Virginia residents, including 833 registered voters and 771 likely voters, was conducted for UMW by Research America Inc. between Sept. 5 and Sept. 11.
https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/government-politics/umw-poll-shows-virginia-has-rapidly-returned-to-purple-state-status/article_f46bd2ca-5e0e-11ee-9174-ff1be1fe1493.html
https://www.loudountimes.com/news/umw-poll-shows-virginia-has-rapidly-returned-to-purple-state-status/article_4f564759-cf17-51ab-9deb-c0b5b2b63653.html
https://starexponent.com/news/state-regional/umw-poll-shows-virginia-has-rapidly-returned-to-purple-state-status/article_f046f4f8-60b2-11ee-8a76-cbf425e75e99.html
https://www.wmal.com/2023/09/29/virginia-looking-more-purple-ahead-of-novembers-midterm-elections/
https://roanoke.com/news/state-and-regional/umw-poll-shows-virginia-has-rapidly-returned-to-purple-state-status/article_c0b80fc8-cf63-5615-ab5b-53b2c8697129.html
University of Mary Washington poll shows Virginia legislative elections 50-50 (WINA)
Center Director Stephen Farnsworth notes among 771 likely voters who responded… Virginia is back to a purple state after flirting with a period of being blue with 42-percent wanting a Republican majority legislature… and 42-percent wanting Democrats in control.
https://wina.com/news/064460-university-of-mary-washington-poll-shows-virginia-legislative-elections-50-50/
Poll: Virginia voters evenly split heading into the November election (The Washington Examiner)
“Virginia has rapidly returned to its purple state status,” Stephen J. Farnsworth said in a release.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/poll-virginia-voters-evenly-split-heading-into-the-november-election
LISTEN: Statewide survey shows largely positive marks for Virginia’s public schools (Fredericksburg Today)
https://fredericksburg.today/2023/09/29/listen-statewide-survey-shows-largely-positive-marks-for-virginias-public-schools/
Poll: 42% of Virginia voters want the governor to have less power over local schools (WVTF)
Professor Stephen Farnsworth, the director of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, which conducted the survey, said the numbers could be a bad sign for Youngkin. “It’s a suggestion that the governor’s strategy of weighing in aggressively on education is not particularly helpful to swing voters,” said Farnsworth.
https://www.wvtf.org/news/2023-09-29/poll-42-of-virginia-voters-want-the-governor-to-have-less-power-over-local-schools
UMW’s Dr. Stephen Farnsworth: Statewide survey shows largely positive marks for Virginia’s public schools (WFVA News Talk)
“This survey shows that those combative voices at school board meetings are not representative of public opinion across the Commonwealth regarding public education,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies. “Overall, Virginians remain quite positive about the performance of their schools, both regarding education generally and providing a safe learning environment.”
https://www.newstalk1230.net/episode/umws-dr-stephen-farnsworth/
New Virginia poll shows popularity of Governor Glenn Youngkin versus President Joe Biden as presidential candidates (13 News Now)
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — New poll results published Friday by the University of Mary Washington show more polled Virginians would vote for Joe Biden over Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, if those were the only two candidates on their respective ballots.
https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/politics/elections/new-virginia-poll-governor-glenn-youngkin-versus-president-joe-biden-presidential-candidates/291-cb83c90b-3bef-4700-9641-ce6f0d65d57e
Roem, Woolf spar on abortion, data centers, Va. 28 bypass in first debate (Prince William Times)
The two met for their first debate on Thursday, Sept. 28 at Grace E. Metz Middle School. The event was sponsored by the Prince William Committee of 100 and moderated by Stephen Farnsworth, director of the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies.
https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/roem-woolf-spar-on-abortion-data-centers-va-28-bypass-in-first-debate/article_de19d49c-5fb0-11ee-9d30-a7296a2df18e.html
Trump Fraud Trial Begins Today (CTV News)
“I think Donald Trump believes that playing the victim is the best strategy for him in this situation,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2778414
Not the time for a Virginia dark horse, say political observers (The Center Square; The Washington Examiner)
And that’s where his focus should stay, according to Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington – for more reasons than one. “I don’t know that there’s a compelling message Youngkin can offer that more experienced politicians haven’t offered so far,” Farnsworth told The Center Square.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/virginia/article_493ed37a-61a1-11ee-b741-3fed1f7a3360.html
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/not-the-time-for-a-virginia-dark-horse-say-political-observers
‘Virginia has returned to purple state status’ | New poll finds Virginians divided ahead of midterms (WUSA)
“Virginia has rapidly returned to its purple state status,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and the Center’s director. “This new statewide survey shows that Virginia’s voters are basically evenly divided as they approach the upcoming Virginia legislative elections.”
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/vote/virginians-divided-desired-election-results-survey-university-mary-washington/65-4d5bb6ce-68df-4c14-a726-f88125ffbda1
New survey shows Virginians are headed to the polls with abortion rights, K-12 education on their minds (WRIC; WAVY)
“The reversal by the Supreme Court tends to be a very powerful issue in motivating voters even a year and a half later,” Professor Stephen Farnsworth, Director of the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, told 8News.
https://www.wric.com/news/politics/capitol-connection/new-survey-shows-virginians-are-headed-to-the-polls-with-abortion-rights-k-12-education-on-their-minds/
https://www.wavy.com/news/new-survey-shows-virginians-are-headed-to-the-polls-with-abortion-rights-k-12-education-on-their-minds/
Purple Commonwealth: Virginia Poll Shows 42 Percent to 42 Percent Split Between Republicans, Democrats (Tennessee Star)
“Virginia has rapidly returned to its purple state status,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth (pictured above), professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, and the center’s director. The poll included 833 registered voters, 771 likely voters, and carries a 3-percentage point margin of error.
https://tennesseestar.com/elections/purple-commonwealth-virginia-poll-shows-42-percent-to-42-percent-split-between-republicans-democrats/neil-mccabe/2023/10/03/
Youngkin’s political fortunes on the line in battle for control of the Virginia Legislature (The Washington Times)
“If he wants to raise his national profile, he needs to have a record of conservative legislating that has basically been denied to him so far by the Democratic majority in the Senate,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/oct/3/glenn-youngkins-political-fortunes-line-battle-con/
Poll: 42% of Virginia voters want the governor to have less power over local schools (WHRO)
Professor Stephen Farnsworth, the director of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, which conducted the survey, said the numbers could be a bad sign for Youngkin. “It’s a suggestion that the governor’s strategy of weighing in aggressively on education is not particularly helpful to swing voters,” said Farnsworth.
https://whro.org/news/local-news/41672-poll-42-of-virginia-voters-want-the-governor-to-have-less-power-over-local-schools
Day Three in Fraud Trial Against Trump (CTV News)
“Yes, this really cuts to the core of Donald Trump’s narrative of being a successful businessman. Above all, he has worked through his professional life to demonstrate that he was a savvy, affluent man like almost no one else in America,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2780037
Search for New U.S. House Speaker (CTV News)
“This is a situation that is unprecedented in American history,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2780037
Jennifer Wexton’s open Virginia seat will be ‘one of the most interesting congressional races’ in the country (WJLA)
“When you think about politicians looking for opportunities, there’s no better time to run for something than when there is not an incumbent running against you, so that means this will be a free-for-all probably with respect to both parties,” Farnsworth said. “One thing’s for sure, you should be watching this race because this will be one of the most interesting congressional races in the entire country.”
https://wjla.com/news/local/virginia-open-congressional-seat-10th-district-rep-jennifer-wexton-va-10-democratic-republican-politics-congress-candidates-november-2023-election-reelection-loudoun-county-phyllis-randall-senator-mark-warner
Republican Governor In Key State Breaks Fundraising Record Ahead Of Election Day (Daily Caller; Tampa Free Press)
Virginians were nearly split in terms of who they wanted to see take control of the state’s legislature, according to a University of Mary Washington poll released Sept. 27.
https://dailycaller.com/2023/10/04/youngkin-fundraising-record-election-day-virginia/
https://www.tampafp.com/virginia-gov-glenn-youngkin-smashes-fundraising/
How Chuck Robb’s 1981 Election Shaped Virginia Politics (Apple Podcast)
They discuss the 1981 election of Chuck Robb for Virginia’s Governor–how Robb escaped the legacy of the Byrd Machine and President Johnson’s Great Society, pushing the Democratic message to a more centrist line that would hold for the next several decades.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transition-virginia/id1498833592?i=1000630284550
What’s the next abortion bellwether state? Virginia. (The Washington Post)
“What we’re seeing here in Virginia is the same pattern that we’re seeing nationally: Democratic voters are much more energized by the abortion question now that control over abortion laws is in the hands of state governments,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/06/what-next-abortion-bellwether-state-virginia/
Survey: Virginians generally positive about public schools providing education and safety (Augusta Free Press)
“This survey shows that those combative voices at school board meetings are not representative of public opinion across the Commonwealth regarding public education,” Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at UMW and director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, said. “Overall, Virginians remain quite positive about the performance of their schools, both regarding education generally and providing a safe learning environment.”
https://augustafreepress.com/news/survey-virginians-generally-positive-about-public-schools-providing-education-and-safety/
UMW statewide survey considers 2024 Biden, Trump presidential rematch (WFVA News Talk 1230)
“Virginia looks a lot like America as a whole in this survey,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies. “President Biden is relatively unpopular now in Virginia and nationally, and national surveys also suggest 2024 is shaping up to be an extremely competitive election cycle.”
https://www.newstalk1230.net/episode/umw-statewide-survey/
Virginians divided over 2023 legislative elections in statewide survey (WFVA News Talk 1230)
“Virginia has rapidly returned to its purple state status,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and the Center’s director. “This new statewide survey shows that Virginia’s voters are basically evenly divided as they approach the upcoming Virginia legislative elections.”
https://www.newstalk1230.net/episode/virginians/
Truman Capote’s first novel is this year’s One Book, One Festival selection; Festival is Oct. 28 (The Advocate)
Dr. Gary Richards, who has led many previous sessions since One Book, One Festival began in 2008, returns to moderate the discussion. Richards is a professor of English and former chair of the Department of English and Linguistics at the University of Mary Washington. This will be the 11th time he’s led the One Book, One Festival discussion.
https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/truman-capotes-first-novel-is-this-years-one-book-choice/article_2c10692e-6207-11ee-9a2e-eb70401bf968.html
The happiest (and unhappiest) states in America may surprise you (Vox News Albania; West Observer; The Nashville News)
“Increasing wealth does not increase a person’s happiness, but experiencing poverty certainly makes you unhappy,” says Miriam Liss, a professor of psychology at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
https://www.voxnews.al/english/lifestyle/shtetet-me-me-te-lumtura-dhe-me-te-palumtura-te-amerikes-mund-tiu-surp-i49713
https://westobserver.com/news/united-states/americas-happiest-and-unhappiest-states-might-surprise-you/
https://www.thenashvillenews.net/news/273989727/americas-happiest-and-unhappiest-states-might-surprise-you
Virginians Divided Over 2023 Legislative Elections in UMW Statewide Survey (Fredericksburg Today)
“Virginia has rapidly returned to its purple state status,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and the Center’s director. “This new statewide survey shows that Virginia’s voters are basically evenly divided as they approach the upcoming Virginia legislative elections.”
https://fredericksburg.today/2023/10/08/virginians-divided-over-2023-legislative-elections-in-umw-statewide-survey/
Jennifer Wexton’s Open Virginia Seat Will Be ‘One of the most interesting congressional races’ in the Country (NBC Montana)
“When you think about politicians looking for opportunities, there’s no better time to run for something than when there is not an incumbent running against you, so that means this will be a free-for-all probably with respect to both parties,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “One thing’s for sure, you should be watching this race because this will be one of the most interesting congressional races in the entire country.”
https://nbcmontana.com/news/connect-to-congress/jennifer-wextons-open-virginia-seat-will-be-one-of-the-most-interesting-congressional-races-in-the-country-10th-district-parkinsons-congress-house-of-representatives-phyllis-randall-corruption-gary-katz-mark-warner-senate-republicans-democrats
Early voter turnouts high in Republican and competitive districts (The Black Chronicle)
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington, also thinks spectators should be careful when reading into where the most early voting has happened until now. Still, he does think it was smart of Youngkin and Republicans to push early voting.
https://blackchronicle.com/mid-atlantic/virginia/early-voter-turnouts-high-in-republican-and-competitive-districts/
Virginia elections put messaging on abortion, crime to the test (The Hill; Belleville News Democrat; Yahoo News)
A University of Mary Washington poll released last week found 40 percent of respondents saying they favored Democratic majorities in both chambers next year, while 37 percent said they favored Republican majorities.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4242791-virginia-abortion-crime-2023-elections-youngkin/
https://www.bnd.com/news/politics-government/article280317504.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/virginia-elections-put-messaging-abortion-100000296.html
A blue Prince William County with pockets of purple and red (InsideNova)
“It’s clear that Prince William County has moved in a significantly pro-Democratic direction in the last several years,” Dr. Stephen Farmsworth, a political scientist with the University of Mary Washington, told InsideNoVa. “But it’s also the case that the political environment remains unsettled, particularly in the areas of the county farthest from I-95.”
https://www.insidenova.com/community_guides/a-blue-prince-william-county-with-pockets-of-purple-and-red/article_97e6fe98-6738-11ee-a5c6-03ace9c41ca0.html
Virginia elections in dead heat as candidates focus on abortion and crime (The Denver Gazette; Washington Examiner; MSN; Shore Daily)
UMW politics professor Stephen Farnsworth said Virginia, once reliably purple but trending blue in recent years, “has rapidly returned to its purple state status.” In the same poll, 53% of respondents said the overturn of Roe v. Wade would be a “major factor” for electoral decision-making.
https://gazette.com/news/wex/virginia-elections-in-dead-heat-as-candidates-focus-on-abortion-and-crime/article_d8e706ce-ac19-57a6-acff-7b7fdc3f4f7c.html
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/virginia-elections-dead-heat-abortion-crime
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/virginia-elections-in-dead-heat-as-candidates-focus-on-abortion-and-crime/ar-AA1hXJ3f
https://shoredailynews.com/headlines/virginias-legislative-elections-appear-to-be-in-a-dead-heat/