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 a lecture, “Political Participation Under Pressure,” at the Constitution Day meeting of the League of Women Voters, Charlottesville, Virginia.

[White House pleads with media outlets to scrutinize House GOP impeachment push (The Washington Times)] Stephen Farnsworth, a politics professor and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, said there is always “a lot of give and take among government officials and reporters over how to shape the news, and this is just another example of those contentious arguments about how to contextualize current events.” “Stating the administration’s views via a memo like this is a very cost-effective way for the White House team to express itself,” he said. “Not only might the summary shape the current round of impeachment investigation stories, but the memo can also make news in its own right.” Read more.

[Virginia Decides: Education, abortion remain key issues ahead of early voting (WUSA 9)] Dr. Stephen Farnsworth of University of Mary Washington, who moderates debates, said with most voters who are already decided, energizing them to hit the polls is the goal. “The question is not about how to persuade somebody else but rather but how to make sure people who will vote for you, actually turn out to do so,” said Farnsworth. “It’s a time when it isn’t likely there will be a lot of turnouts, so, an idea of really creating a fearful environment is going to be a strategy that both parties are going to be using throughout the Fall.” Read more.

https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/virginia/abortion-and-education-remain-key-issues-ahead-of-early-voting-in-virginia/65-4442f4bb-678f-42e3-8824-aad77e3ca791

[Virginia General Assembly candidate’s campaign rocked by sex tape revelation (Nation World News NBC 29; Hartford Courant; Axios; AL.com; Washington Hispanic; Sentinel Colorado)] Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, says that even in an age more open to personal denials, Gibson is unlikely to win. “Donald Trump downwardly redefined what is acceptable in public life, but this is not the kind of behavior Democrats can sell in a suburban Richmond district,” Farnsworth said. Read more.

https://www.nbc29.com/2023/09/13/virginia-candidate-who-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-women-leading-democrat/

https://www.courant.com/2023/09/12/virginia-candidate-who-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-from-women-democratic-leader/

https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/09/14/susanna-gibson-sex-videos-henrico-virginia-election

https://www.al.com/news/2023/09/virginia-house-candidate-susanna-gibson-gains-support-after-sex-videos-revealed-its-a-hit-job.html

https://washingtonhispanic.com/metro/la-candidata-de-virginia-que-transmitio-videos-sexuales-obtiene-el-apoyo-de-las-mujeres-y-el-lider-democrata/

https://www.wric.com/news/politics/ap-virginia-candidate-who-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-from-women-democratic-leader/

https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2023/sep/14/sex-sale/

[On ‘Meet the Press,’ Trump refuses to say whether he watched Jan. 6 attack unfold on television (Fox 10 Phoenix; KTVU)] New developments this week in the legal challenges against the former President include a trial date of March 4 in Washington, D.C. and news that the judge will allow cameras and Live streaming of the case in Georgia. Political expert Stephen Farnsworth breaks down the impact on the case. Read more.

https://www.ktvu.com/news/trump-meet-the-press-interview-kristen-walker

[Va. Dems outraise GOP, but Youngkin’s White House buzz helps close gap (The Washington Post; MSN.com)] “This is on track to be the most expensive Virginia midterm in the commonwealth’s history,” said Stephen Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. “Because the parties are so much more ideologically distinct than used to be the case, the stakes are very high for the future direction of Virginia.” Read more.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/va-dems-outraise-gop-but-youngkin-s-white-house-buzz-helps-close-gap/ar-AA1gPaOl

[In Virginia, a battle over history standards ends in compromise (The Hechinger Report)] “In Virginia, Youngkin can’t begin to do what Ron DeSantis can do in Florida on questions of ‘wokeness,’ because there is a Democratic Senate majority that is blocking much of Youngkin’s preferred agenda,” said Stephen Farnsworth, the director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. Read more

[Republicans, Democrats in Virginia make last push to encourage early voting (ABC News)] “What’s clear is that this will be an immensely expensive and hard-fought campaign,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political analyst at the University of Mary Washington. Read more.

https://www.wbal.com/article/616645/109/republicans-democrats-in-virginia-make-last-push-to-encourage-early-voting

[Virginia opens new trade office in Taiwan (VPM)] Taiwan’s role as a tech hub and chip manufacturer make it a good future bet for Virginia’s corresponding industries, according to Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. And Farnsworth said Youngkin’s political calculus may also be a factor. “Getting more engaged in one of the world’s hotspots helps build his international profile,” Farnsworth said. Read more

[Republicans, Democrats both lose from late-night TV’s silencing (The Hill; Fox 59; MSN)] “It’s OK for the top shows to run reruns during much of the summer, when the hosts might be taking vacations or the audience might not be there, but as the election cycle draws closer, their absence at 11:30 p.m. will be sorely missed by millions of viewers who had gotten used to tuning in,” said University of Mary Washington professor Stephen Farnsworth. Read more.

https://fox59.com/hill-politics/republicans-democrats-both-lose-from-late-night-tvs-silencing/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republicans-democrats-both-lose-from-late-night-tv-s-silencing/ar-AA1gZf0q

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/late-night-tv-strike/2023/09/20/id/1135243/

[Early Voting Could Spike with New Republican Push (Williamsburg Yorktown Daily; Inside Nova)] The strategy is something Republicans should have done for past elections, according to Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. “Gov. Youngkin has recognized that Republicans have been at a huge disadvantage with early voting over the last several election cycles and the governor is moving aggressively to try to reduce that early participation gap that has so strongly favored Democrats in recent years,” Farnsworth said. Read more.

https://www.insidenova.com/news/politics/early-voting-starts-friday-in-virginia-ahead-of-big-election/article_efdbbbd8-dee8-55ca-b9c1-d1a468ba160f.html

[Va. GOP group launches ad painting Democrats as out of touch on abortion (The Washington Post)] “Even in red states, when abortion has been on the ballot, Republicans have lost,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “Arguing that Democrats favor infanticide is an example of how difficult their position is.” Read more.

[Early Voting Underway in Virginia Ahead of Big Election (The Roanoke Star)] The strategy is something Republicans should have done for past elections, according to Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. “Gov. Youngkin has recognized that Republicans have been at a huge disadvantage with early voting over the last several election cycles and the governor is moving aggressively to try to reduce that early participation gap that has so strongly favored Democrats in recent years,” Farnsworth said. Read more.

[As shutdown looms, Va. leaders urge Congress to ‘get their act together (Richmond Times-Dispatch; Martinsville Bulletin; Daily Progress)] Read more.

https://martinsvillebulletin.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/as-shutdown-looms-va-leaders-urge-congress-to-get-their-act-together/article_1236120d-a5f3-53a5-a840-4f8b6d4f3fcc.html

https://dailyprogress.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/as-shutdown-looms-va-leaders-urge-congress-to-get-their-act-together/article_f2ae5956-081a-5313-8316-501d5a9564da.html

[Youngkin’s nightmare: A GOP-led government shutdown (Axios)] “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.” Read more.