Stephen Farnsworth
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs | University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA, UNITED STATES
Director of UMW's Center for Leadership and Media Studies, Farnsworth has authored/co-authored books on the presidency, mass media and more.
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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)
Swing state GOP in explosive disarray as Republican's PAC is accused of extortion
MSN; Virginia Mercury; Yahoo; Royal Examiner online
2025-04-30
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said the turmoil surrounding Reid’s candidacy highlights deeper challenges for Virginia Republicans heading into a critical election cycle. “The biggest challenge that you have as a first-time statewide candidate is getting your name out there in the public,” Farnsworth said. “That’s not going to be a problem for John Reid.” But, he cautioned, the downside is significant: “This controversy won’t help Reid or the Republican ticket.”
Youngkin asks John Reid to withdraw from Lt. Gov. race, could this impact the GOP in VA?
WJLA; Loudoun Times-Mirror online
2025-04-30
University of Mary Washington political scientist Stephen Farnsworth said Republicans are fighting a national tide, and party infighting may cost them.
Democrats clash over approaches as party still searches for an identity
The National Desk; Komo News; WPDE; CBS Austin; KATV; ABC 45 online
2025-04-30
Strategies Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, says, point toward the 2028 presidential election officially being underway. When you're looking at the Democratic Governor's in particular, they're trying to make more of a name for themselves. They're trying to reshape the vision of the party," said Farnsworth.
Trump marks 100 days in office of second term
CTV Canada online
2025-04-30
"Well, nothing has been quiet at all in these 100 days. The Trump administration has reached across all kinds of policy areas, transgressed all kinds of lines in terms of the way Congress and the President usually work together and has so created an environment where there are a huge number of law suits and a huge number of questions about what happens to some of these policies going forward," said Stephen Farnsworth.
President Donald Trump tests executive power in first 100 days
United Press International; Yahoo online
2025-04-30
"The courts have already made it pretty clear that people in the country are entitled to due process, whether they're in the country legally or not," Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, told UPI.
Could Lt. Gov. furor give Republicans a do-over on N.Va. candidate?
Richmond Times-Dispatch online
2025-04-28
“Republicans need somebody to speak to Northern Virginia and this ticket doesn’t really have that,” said Steve Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. Youngkin’s effort to push Reid off the ticket could give Republicans a do-over with a candidate from Northern Virginia, but only if it works, Farnsworth said.
Virginia’s future retail marijuana market likely depends on gubernatorial election
Virginia Business online
2025-04-28
Political expert Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and the director of its Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is skeptical that cannabis policy alone will drive voter turnout. However, he predicts Democrats will retain their majority in the House.
Va. future retail marijuana market likely depends on gubernatorial election
Virginia Scope; The Patriot; The Virginian-Pilot online
2025-04-24
Political expert Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and the director of its Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is skeptical that cannabis policy alone will drive voter turnout. However, he predicts Democrats will retain their majority in the House.
Senator Durbin's exit seen as chance for generational shift in Democratic leadership
The National Desk online
2025-04-24
What Durbin is doing is helping create that generational shift in the party," said Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. Farnsworth believes a big challenge the Democrats face right now is an identity crisis.
Virginia candidates raise over $20 million as 2025 election season heats up
The Northern Virginia Daily online
2025-04-21
“I think it’s important to note that that funding gap will narrow now that the legislative session is over,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “Now that the lieutenant governor is a Republican nominee, I imagine some Republicans were waiting for a resolution of the nomination process before weighing in with donations.”
In Trump’s America, women trade progressive politics for pearls for the ‘tradwife’ idyll
The Straits Times Singapore online
2025-04-21
Political science professor Stephen Farnsworth from the University of Mary Washington, and author of Presidential Communication And Character, said: "Politicians who are familiar with or supportive of the tradwife movement can build a devoted following among those adherents because these politicians are demonstrating that they understand and can connect with that element of the voting public. Paying attention to those communities, particularly energised ones, is becoming increasingly the reality of politics in this country. If you don't reach out to your most energised potential supporters, you are undermining your ability to win a party nomination."
Trump looms large as Virginia turns to election season (Daily Progress)
Daily Progress online
2025-04-07
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that in the campaigns to come “Democrats will make Trump the first name of every Republican who’s on the ballot.”
Why a GOP primary challenge is upending Virginia’s governor race
Washington Examiner online
2025-04-07
“Donald Trump’s name will not appear on the Virginia ballot, but the reality is the gubernatorial race this year will be all about President Trump,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “Democrats will bring up the president at every opportunity, given his unpopularity in the commonwealth as a way of motivating the Democratic base.”
Special elections signal Blue resurgence in America. Should the GOP worry?
TRT Global online
2025-04-04
Dr Stephen J Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies, University of Mary Washington, underscores the significance of this shift. "The Democrats in Congress have yet to agree on a unified strategy for countering Trump. While minority parties cannot do a lot to counter an opposing party's president, it's clear that aggressive efforts by some Democrats — like the anti-oligarch rallies — are finding a lot of support among Democratic activists," Farnsworth tells TRT World.
Political theater takes center stage as legislature returns for veto session
Virginia Mercury online
2025-04-02
Stephen Farnsworth, a political analyst from the University of Mary Washington, offered a candid assessment of Virginia’s current legislative dynamics this year, characterizing both the regular and Wednesday’s veto session as exercises in political positioning rather than substantive governance. “This was a kick-the-can-down-the-road legislative session, and it will be a kick-the-can-down-the-road veto session,” he said.
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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