Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies Stephen Farnsworth was quoted in a TRT World article titled “Elon Musk backs Conservative rebels, blasts GOP, teases a new party: What is the billionaire up to?” In the article, Farnsworth provided analysis on the political dynamics between Trump and Musk, noting that “In any competition between Trump and Musk, some form of compromise seems the most likely eventual outcome.” Read the article.
Other media mentions for Farnsworth include:
Virginia’s top prosecutor targets drugs, crime — and Northern Va. schools (The Washington Post)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that part of Youngkin’s success in 2021 came from his status as a political newcomer. With little to no record to answer for, the businessman turned politician was able to shape his stances on topics such as education as he went. “Youngkin was something of a blank slate,” Farnsworth said. “People could imagine Youngkin in a variety of ways, because he was such an unknown. Miyares doesn’t have that option. He’s been attorney general for four years.”
Virginia Democrats are eyeing 13 potential seats that could flip blue this year (WVTF)
Lucky 13 is the target number of seats this year for Democrats, who are hoping to flip the districts from red to blue. Stephen Farnsworth at the University of Mary Washington says the battleground is suburban. “They’re often in outer ring suburban communities, particularly in the Richmond and Hampton Roads area where elections are won and lost in Virginia. These are contested spaces, these outer ring suburban counties,” Farnsworth says. “They’re not rural. They’re not really urban. But they are places where both parties often can be competitive.”
Special Election set in Virginia’s 11th District (DC News Now; MSN)
“I think it is very important to remember that there is not much either of the candidates can do or say that has all that much of an impact in a district that is overwhelmingly democratic in its orientation,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/special-election-set-in-virginia-s-11th-district/vi-AA1I09Vs
Democrats and Republicans were out on the Virginia campaign trail. Here’s what they had to say. (Yahoo.com; The Virginian Pilot; The Charlotte Observer)
“To describe the Republican rally as a unity rally requires a very flexible definition of unity,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “The party candidates barely appeared on stage together, did not have a lot to say about each other, and generally have a kind of problematic history for imagining that they’re going to be able to work together this fall.”
Virginia Democrats are eyeing 13 potential seats that could flip blue this year (WMRA)
Lucky 13 is the target number of seats this year for Democrats, who are hoping to flip the districts from red to blue. Stephen Farnsworth at the University of Mary Washington says the battleground is suburban. “They’re often in outer ring suburban communities, particularly in the Richmond and Hampton Roads area where elections are won and lost in Virginia. These are contested spaces, these outer ring suburban counties,” Farnsworth says. “They’re not rural. They’re not really urban. But they are places where both parties often can be competitive.”
https://www.wmra.org/2025-07-07/virginia-democrats-are-eyeing-13-potential-seats-that-could-flip-blue-this-year
https://www.wmra.org/2025-07-07/virginia-democrats-are-eyeing-13-potential-seats-that-could-flip-blue-this-year
Youngkin sets veto record as energy, AI fuel gridlock (Virginia Business)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, says that candidates running for seats this year in the House of Delegates are hearing from voters about the issue of data centers, AI and energy generation.
https://virginiabusiness.com/youngkin-vetoes-data-centers-energy-ai-elections/
https://virginiabusiness.com/youngkin-vetoes-data-centers-energy-ai-elections/
Virginia Democrats Sprint to Win Primary to Replace Connolly (Bloomburg Industry)
“The main thing that might come out of this primary is a sense of the vision of what the Democratic Party should look like in the minds of the very engaged, very affluent Democratic voters in this district,” Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said in an interview. “Virginia Democrats are much more combative and unified against Republicans than Washington Democrats are.”
