Stephen Farnsworth
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs | University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA, UNITED STATES
Dr. Farnsworth has spent decades researching how media and politics intersect. Check out his website at stephenfarnsworth.net.
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Biography
Dr. Farnsworth is a sought-after political commentator on subjects ranging from presidential politics to the local Virginia congressional races. He has been widely featured in national media, including The Washington Post, Reuters, The Chicago Tribune and MSNBC.
He is author or co-author of seven books on presidential communication. His work, "Presidential Communication and Character: White House News Management from Clinton and Cable to Twitter and Trump," examines how the last four U.S. presidents sell themselves and their policies in an ever-expanding and sometimes precarious media environment.
Among his other books are "The Global President;" "Spinner in Chief: How Presidents Sell Their Policies and Themselves;" "The Nightly News Nightmare: Media Coverage of U.S. Presidential Elections, 1988-2008;" "The Mediated Presidency: Television News and Presidential Governance;" "Political Support in a Frustrated America;" and "Late Night With Trump: Political Humor and the American Presidency."
A professor at University of Mary Washington for nearly two decades, he established the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies. He is recipient of the 2017 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award by the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV), and was recognized for his service to the national political science honor society Pi Sigma Alpha. The University has bestowed four teaching honors, including the Alumni Association Outstanding Young Faculty Member Award, the Mary W. Pinschmidt Teaching Award, the Richard Palmieri Outstanding Professor Award and the Waple Research Professorship Award.
Areas of Expertise (7)
American Elections
American Government
The American Presidency
Internet Politics
Mass Media and Politics
Virginia Government and Politics
Journalism
Accomplishments (10)
Waple Research Professorship (professional)
2018-03-31
Awarded for outstanding research in political science.
Farnsworth Receives Outstanding Faculty Award (professional)
2017-01-04
Stephen J. Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington professor of political science and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies, has received the prestigious 2017 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award by the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV).
Farnsworth Receives National Political Science Association Award (professional)
2016-09-13
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the UMW Center for Leadership and Media Studies, was recognized for his dedication and service to Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, at the American Political Science Association Conference in September 2016.
Recipient, Distinguished Communicator Award (professional)
2016-04-10
Awarded by the Virginia Association of Communication Arts and Sciences.
Best Conference Paper Award in Political Communication (professional)
2011-04-01
Eastern Communication Association
Best Conference Paper Award in Political Communication (professional)
2009-04-01
Southern States Communication Association
J. William Fulbright Research Chair in Public Policy (professional)
2006-01-01
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Outstanding Young Faculty Member Award (professional)
2001-01-01
Awarded by the Alumni Association of Mary Washington College.
Mary W. Pinschmidt Teaching Award (professional)
1999-01-01
Presented by the graduating class to the faculty member "who had the greatest impact on their lives" at Mary Washington College.
Richard Palmieri Outstanding Professor Award (professional)
1999-01-01
Presented by Mortar Board honor and service society in recognition of exceptional teaching and service to Mary Washington College.
Education (4)
Georgetown University: Ph.D., American Government
Georgetown University: M.A., American Government
University of Missouri: B.A. (Honors), History
Dartmouth College: B.A. (Honors), American Government
Affiliations (3)
- Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society
- Fredericksburg Regional Board of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia : Member
- Former Chair, Political Communication Section of American Political Science Association. 2012-2014
Media Appearances (15)
The Media, Messaging, & the 2024 Election A conversation with Dr. Stephen Farnsworth
The Interesting Times online
2024-12-03
"Well, I think first of all when we think about the election, we have to recognize that this is kind of a standard retrospective voting election", said Stephen Farnsworth.
President Biden pardons his son, Hunter Biden
CTV News online
2024-12-03
"Well, I think one of the things the president should have done is not saying he wasn't going to do it, if he intended to do it," said Stephen Farnsworth.
Trump Promises 25% Tariff on Canda Once He Takes Office
CTV News online
2024-12-02
"Well, there is absolutely no way to sugarcoat the consequences of something like this. This would be an immense challenge for the American economy and for the Canadian economy," said Stephen Farnsworth.
Trump, Fox News and why his TV star Cabinet picks are such a big deal (
USA Today online
2024-12-02
Enjoying the ease of an echo chamber in a politically volatile environment is "a very comforting experience" and can be what keeps viewers watching, said Stephen Farnsworth, author of "Presidential Communication and Character: White House News Management from Clinton and Cable to Twitter and Trump."
Youngkin backs Earle-Sears for Virginia Governor
Yahoo News online
2024-11-25
'Well, it seems to me that once the Attorney General had decided that he was not going to compete for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor, the chips feel into place very quickly," said Stephen Farnsworth.
Donald Trump's recess appointment proposal 'short-circuits Constitution'
UPI online
2024-11-25
"Normally, not all of the president's team makes it through," Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, told UPI. "Senators, even senators of the president's party, often turn down one nominee or threaten to do so and that nominee withdraws their candidacy."
New leadership on the horizon for House Freedom Caucus (MSN)
MSN online
2024-11-25
“Good may have lost the battle, but he has helped purge Republican moderates from the party,” Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “The Republican caucus in Washington, and in Richmond for that matter, is more uniformly conservative than it ever was.” But “the same inflexibility that makes the Freedom Caucus appealing to some Republican voters can be its undoing for some individual members, as Good learned in this primary,” Farnsworth said.
The Election, how it went and why
WCPT online
2024-11-15
"Above all, this is what we call retrospective voting in political science. People look at the Biden administration presidency, they look at the economic conditions that they are seeing in their personal lives,, and they say no, I want something different," said Stephen Farnsworth.
Candidates line up for special elections to replace Virginia senators recently elected to US House
The Free Lance-Star online
2024-11-12
“It’s not impossible for the out party to win these districts, but a lot would have to go wrong for the dominant party to lose — a contentious nomination struggle, an extremely low turnout special election or a really energized out party,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “You would basically need a perfect storm followed by another perfect storm ... Most of the time, perfect storms don’t happen.”
Trump's agenda would mean profound change, from economy to federal workforce
Richmond Times-Dispatch online
2024-11-11
“Donald Trump always pushed the political and legal systems as far as they could go,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington.
Commentary: Out of the blue? Virginia was purple all along
Richmond Times-Dispatch online
2024-11-11
Tuesday’s election results in Virginia, where Democratic nominee Kamala Harris won the commonwealth’s electoral votes and the two major parties each went one-for-one in the two most volatile congressional districts (2 and 7), should demonstrate — once again — that Virginia has not become a blue state.
Harris wins Virginia but by lesser margin than Biden
Vindman claims victory in Virginia's 7th Congressional district (WVTF) online
2024-11-07
"Vindman won this contest likely on the basis of offering a centrist democratic message that has worked for Spanberger in the past," said Stephen Farnsworth.
Economy, democracy most important to voters on election day
The Center Square online
2024-11-07
An early September University of Mary Washington poll showed the same thing: that “threats to democracy” was the second-biggest concern for voters after the economy.
Harris wins Virginia but by lesser margin than Biden
Washington Examiner online
2024-11-07
Two separate polls, one conducted by the conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports and another from the University of Mary Washington, showed in the days leading up to the election that Trump had cut into Harris's lead and was within striking distance.
Running for governor, Spanberger a force in 7th District race
Richmond Times-Dispatch; The Daily Progress online
2024-10-21
“Certainly, she’s lending her credibility to the (Vindman) campaign,” said Steve Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. “It would be a bad look for Democrats going into 2025 if Virginia Democrats can’t keep Virginia 7.”
Event Appearances (21)
Partisan Trends in Late Night Humor
Virginia Association of Communication Arts and Sciences Fairfax, VA
2018-04-06
The New Virginia: Politics and the Economy after the 2017 Elections
Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance Lynchburg, VA
2017-12-14
Reviewing the 2017 Elections in Virginia
Virginia Civics Summit Chesterfield, VA
2017-11-29
The Trump Presidency, the Mass Media and Public Opinion
The Norwegian Washington Seminar Washington, DC
2017-10-28
The Identity Crises of the Democratic and Republican Parties
White House Fellows Foundation Leadership Conference Washington, DC
2017-10-27
Donald Trump and the Late-Night Political Humor of Campaign 2016: All the Donald, All the Time
American Political Science Association San Francisco, CA
2017-08-31
Virginia’s Candidate Selection Process: Examining Recent Primaries and Conventions
American Legion Boys’ State of Virginia Radford, VA
2017-06-21
President Obama’s Use of New Media: Enacting the Affordable Care Act and Defining Presidential Character
Western Political Science Association Vancouver, Canada
2017-04-04
Politics, Media and the American Political System.
Institute for International Education Visitor Leadership Program for International Journalism, U.S. Department of State Washington, DC
2017-03-02
Media Bias is a Threat to American Democracy
Podius Debates. University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA
2016-10-26
Digital Media, Public Opinion and the US Presidential Race
BI University Oslo, Norway
2016-10-12
The Presidential Candidates, the Mass Media and the Angry Voters of 2016
Mary Talks, University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA
2016-10-03
News Coverage of the 2013 Virginia Governor’s Race Versus Presidential Election News
American Political Science Association Philadelphia, PA
2016-09-21
A Comparative Analysis of the Partisan Targets of Media Fact-checking
American Political Science Association Philadelphia, PA
2016-09-14
U.S. Journalism, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Development
Institute for International Education Visitor Leadership Program for International Journalism, U.S. Department of State Washington, DC
2016-09-07
Late Night Comics Examine Campaign 2016: Donald Trump Dominates the Jokes
American Political Science Association Pre-Conference in Political Communication Philadelphia, PA
2016-08-03
Barack Obama and the Rise of the Diffident Presidential Style
Midwest Political Science Association Chicago, IL
2016-04-07
Studying the Presidency after 9/11: Re-considering Presidential Character in Domestic and International Contexts
9/11 and the Academy Conference at Emory & Henry College Emory, Va
2015-11-12
Fact-Checking the Fact-Checkers
American Political Science Association San Francisco, CA
2015-09-10
News Coverage of U.S. Presidential Campaigns: Reporting on Primaries and General Elections, 1988-2012
American Political Science Association, Washington, D.C.
2014-08-01
The Automated Coding of Sentiment in Political News Coverage: Examining Newspaper Coverage of the 2013 Race for Governor of Virginia
American Political Science Association Pre-Conference in Political Communication, Washington, D.C.
2014-08-01
Courses (1)
American Government:
Mass Media Politics U.S. Political Parties & Elections The American Presidency US Constitutional Reform US Politics and Film Consuming News: A User’s Guide
Articles (14)
Donald Trump and the Late-Night Political Humor of Campaign 2016: All the Donald, All the Time.
RoutledgeStephen J. Farnsworth, S. Robert Lichter, and Deanne Canieso
2018-02-14
The Presidency and Social Media: Discourse, Disruption and Digital Democracy in the 2016 Presidential Election, (Dan Schill and John Allen Hendricks, ed.) New York: Routledge, 2018: 330-45.
This One Map Shows the Republicans’ Problem in Virginia
Washington PostStephen J. Farnsworth and Stephen Hanna
2017-11-09
[Opinion column] “This One Map Shows the Republicans’ Problem in Virginia.” (Stephen J. Farnsworth and Stephen Hanna). Washington Post. (“The Monkey Cage” blog). November 9, 2017.
Support for Medicaid in Virginia Keeps Growing
Washington PostStephen Farnsworth
2017-10-08
[Opinion column] “Support for Medicaid in Virginia Keeps Growing.” Washington Post. October 8, 2017.
Party Affiliation and Political Class
GreenwoodBenjamin Hermerding and Stephen J. Farnsworth
The American Middle Class: An Economic Encyclopedia of Progress and Poverty (R.S. Rycroft, ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2017: 476-9.
Virginia’s 2013 Gubernatorial Race and Presidential Elections: A Comparison of News Coverage.
The Virginia News LetterStephen J. Farnsworth and S. Robert Lichter
2017-08-01
The Virginia News Letter. Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. 92(3): 1-8 (August 2016).
News coverage of Trump is really, really negative. Even on Fox News
Washington PostStephen J. Farnsworth, S. Robert Lichter, and Roland Schatz
2017-02-28
[ Opinion column] “News coverage of Trump is really, really negative. Even on Fox News.” (Stephen J. Farnsworth, S. Robert Lichter, and Roland Schatz.)Washington Post. (“The Monkey Cage” blog). February 28, 2017.
Donald Trump will probably be the most ridiculed president ever
Washington PostStephen J. Farnsworth, S. Robert Lichter, and Deanne Canieso
2017-01-21
[Opinion column] “Donald Trump will probably be the most ridiculed president ever.” Stephen J. Farnsworth, S. Robert Lichter, and Deanne Canieso.Washington Post. (“The Monkey Cage” blog). January 21, 2017.
Farnsworth Published by "The Fix" Blog, Washington Post
The Washington Post2016-03-08
Stephen Farnsworth is co-author of an opinion column, “Late Night Tells Three Times as Many Jokes about 2016 Republicans as Democrats,” published by "The Fix" blog of the Washington Post.
“The 2015 Election in Virginia: A Tribute to Gerrymandering.”
The Washington Post2015-11-05
A map by Stephen Hanna, professor of geography, and a column by Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, which both discussed the recent state legislative elections were published in "The Fix" blog of The Washington Post. The column was titled “The 2015 Election in Virginia: A Tribute to Gerrymandering.”
With Overwhelming Support for Nonpartisan Redistricting, Virginians are Studying Ways to Make That Happen
The Virginia News Letter2015-06-27
Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia
An Extended Presidential Honeymoon: Coverage of Barack Obama in The New York Times during 2009 and 2010
Politics and Policy2015-06-01
(Stephen J. Farnsworth and S. Robert Lichter). Politics and Policy 41 (3): 447-463 (June 2013).
Virginia Voters and Decentralized Governmental Power: Federal Frustration and State Satisfaction?
Virginia Social Science Journal2015-05-01
Virginia Voters and Decentralized Governmental Power: Federal Frustration and State Satisfaction?
Event-Driven Environmental News in the U.S. and Canada
Electronic Media and Politics2012-11-01
(Stuart Soroka, Stephen J. Farnsworth, Lori Young and Andrea Lawlor). Electronic Media and Politics 1(10): 143-57 (November 2012).
Authors’ Response: Improving News Coverage in the 2012 Presidential Campaign and Beyond
Politics & Policy2012-08-01
(Stephen J. Farnsworth and S. Robert Lichter). Politics & Policy 40(4): 547-556 (August 2012).
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