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 served as the moderator of a Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Debate. The debate was sponsored by the Prince William Committee of 100.

In addition, recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:

Lots of Money, Lots of Sound and Fury to Come in General Assembly Election (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Democrats, on the other hand, have an advantage in that the 2021 redistricting created more of the suburban districts where they’ve been having success in recent years, in large part because of the abortion issue, said University of Mary Washington political scientist Steve Farnsworth.
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/lots-of-money-lots-of-sound-and-fury-to-come-in-general-assembly-election/article_dfbd3206-4752-11ee-9f90-334e5ea0e8fe.html

Trump Pleads Not Guilty (CTV News)
“This is going to be a really tough decision for the judge and it’s likely to really be a very complicated situation for the defendants,” said University of Mary Washington Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2757555

Community Dialogue Addresses Democracy and Civic Engagement (The Crozet Gazette)
Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, will address current Virginia politics, and how state actions are affecting policy in Charlottesville.
https://www.crozetgazette.com/event/we-are-the-league/

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Political Future Hinges on Banning Abortion (The Daily Beast)
“It’s a down to the wire environment in Virginia,” says Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist who heads the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at Mary Washington University. Virginia elections are decided in the suburbs, where Youngkin’s push for a 15-week ban will be tested. “Any Democratic candidate who’s not talking about abortion is committing political malpractice,” says Farnsworth. “Anywhere it’s put before the public, it’s bad news for Republicans.”
https://www.thedailybeast.com/virginia-gov-glenn-youngkins-political-future-hinges-on-banning-abortion

Get ready for flood of Virginia candidate ads after Labor Day (Richmond Times-Dispatch; Roanoke Times)
Democrats, on the other hand, have an advantage in that the 2021 redistricting created more of the suburban districts where they have been having success in recent years, in large part because of the abortion issue, said University of Mary Washington political scientist Steve Farnsworth.
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/lots-of-money-lots-of-sound-and-fury-to-come-in-general-assembly-election/article_dfbd3206-4752-11ee-9f90-334e5ea0e8fe.html
https://roanoke.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_77a71ba2-817b-5fdf-b43f-3edf5920f167.html

Schapiro: Spinning a lot of tunes, perhaps winning a few votes (Richmond Times-Dispatch; The Free Lance-Star)
“Orrock has that longer tenure and a biography that is less all-politics than a lot of people,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a politics professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, where a closely watched House contest and another for Senate could decide control of both chambers. “It’s who he is. And it’s an asset.”
https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/schapiro-spinning-a-lot-of-tunes-perhaps-winning-a-few-votes/article_0c014172-48cf-11ee-9989-53be1de3007b.html
https://fredericksburg.com/opinion/column/schapiro-spinning-a-lot-of-tunes-perhaps-winning-a-few-votes/article_31d11cab-4204-5d00-8863-5129040f114c.html

Ashworth on the defensive as violent crime rate soars in Prince William County (Potomac Local)
Put more police on the streets, and put cameras where crime is going to happen,” said Ashworth when questioned by debate moderator Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, Professor and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at Mary Washington University.
https://www.potomaclocal.com/2023/09/07/ashworth-defensive-as-violent-crime-rate-soars-in-prince-william-county/

Right-wing group warns of ‘surge in human trafficking, despite lack of local cases (The Daily Progress)
“Discussion of sex trafficking and transgender issues have really ramped up in Virginia in the past several months as the elections have drawn closer,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, a professor of political science and international affairs and the director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. “It would be useful for people talking about these issues to draw more attention to specific cases to give people a sense of whether this is a greater threat to students than gun violence in schools, for example.”
https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/crime-courts/right-wing-group-warns-of-surge-in-human-trafficking-despite-lack-of-local-cases/article_ade350fc-36fa-11ee-99be-b314e187c892.html

Court will allow cameras in Trump GA trial (Fox 10 Phoenix)
“We are talking about a very, very accelerated timetable. You have a whole series of legal cases that are going on right now that involve the former president and at the same time, he is also running for president in 2024. So, when you add the campaign appearances and the legal preparation, it is going to be an immensely busy time for the former president,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/colorado-group-files-lawsuit-seeking-to-prevent-trumps-return-to-presidential-race

Virginia candidate who livestreamed sex videos draws support from women, Democratic leader (apnews.com; The Seattle Times; News 2 Jax; ABC News; Fox 5 San Diego; chron.com; The Bharat Express News; NBC 29; The Free Lance-Star)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, said that even in a more open-minded era for personal indiscretions, it’s highly unlikely Gibson will win. “Donald Trump has defined downward what is acceptable in public life, but this doesn’t seem like the kind of conduct that Democrats will be able to sell in a suburban Richmond district,” Farnsworth said.
https://apnews.com/article/susanna-gibson-virginia-house-sex-acts-c2a130b84452b524279b0a496fca2c99
https://www.seattletimes.com/news/virginia-candidate-who-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-from-women-democratic-leader/
https://www.news4jax.com/news/politics/2023/09/12/virginia-candidate-who-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-from-women-democratic-leader/
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/virginia-candidate-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-women-103136515
https://fox5sandiego.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-virginia-candidate-who-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-from-women-democratic-leader/
https://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/campa-a-de-candidata-a-asamblea-general-de-18363299.php
https://thebharatexpressnews.com/virginia-candidate-who-livestreams-sex-videos-gets-support-from-women-democratic-leader/
https://www.nbc29.com/2023/09/13/virginia-candidate-who-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-women-leading-democrat/
https://fredericksburg.com/news/state-and-regional/virginia-candidate-who-livestreamed-sex-videos-draws-support-from-women-democratic-leader/article_10c78ee7-7d4e-5fcb-bdc1-9fa889cd6c1b.html

Youngkin defends decision to pardon Loudoun Co. father (NBC News Washington)
University of Mary Washington political professor Stephen Farnsworth says a pardon before trial sets a dangerous precedent. “It serves political purposes, to be sure, for the governor to engage in Loudoun at every opportunity. I don’t know that it particularly wins him votes in Loudoun, but it certainly does energize the Republican base in other parts of the commonwealth or the country,” Farnsworth said.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/youngkin-defends-decision-to-pardon-loudoun-co-father/3421928/
https://nbcwashington.app.link/AyDTW6GZ3Cb

VA Election news wraps (WMAL radio)
“Campaigns really ramp up after Labor Day, but this year especially a lot of campaigns have been having campaign rallies,” said Stephen Farnsworth.

VA Election news wraps (WMAL radio)
“Virginia elections always function as a leading political indicator,” said Stephen Farnsworth.