The University of Mary Washington will host a public political debate between candidates for Virginia’s 65th District House of Delegates on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. Incumbent Joshua Cole (D) will face off against Sean Steinway (R) in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium.
The debate is being hosted by Mary Washington’s Student Government Association and moderated by UMW Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth, who also serves as director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies. It is co-sponsored by the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of the Fredericksburg Area. The event is free and no tickets are required. Viewing also is available via Zoom at https://go.umw.edu/2025debate.
Farnsworth will join fellow UMW Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman, who chairs the department, and WFVA Radio News Director Ted Schubel in asking questions of the candidates. Audience members will be able to submit questions for consideration before the start of the event.
Virginia’s House of Delegates 65th District includes the city of Fredericksburg and parts of Stafford and Spotsylvania counties.
Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Stafford, Cole was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates 28th District in 2019, serving two years as the youngest person and the first Black person elected from the Fredericksburg region to the General Assembly. In 2023, he became the first African American to win the race for the Commonwealth’s 65th District House of Delegates, where he has tackled such issues as healthcare, minimum wage, transportation and voting rights.
Prior to his political career, Cole worked for Liberty University and Richmond City Public Schools. He also has held staff positions in the Virginia Assembly, including chief of staff for Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler. A pastor and former president of the Stafford County NAACP, Cole is a father of two and lives with his wife, Tiffany, in the Falmouth area of Stafford.
After serving four years in the Marine Corps from the age of 18, Steinway worked undercover with the Fairfax County Police Department, targeting gang leaders. Next, he spent 20 years with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Guatemala, and in Central and South America, and trained thousands as lead instructor for the DEA’s Sensitive Investigative Units at Quantico. He received a letter of commendation from former President Barack Obama for his work combatting drug cartels.
Steinway is co-owner of the Martina’s Cantina food truck, which services Fredericksburg, and Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, and he is founder of Peacemakers-USA, which sells military-inspired wear, donating a portion of profits to local veterans charities. A volunteer firearm safety instructor, he has five children and lives with wife Ada in the White Oak area of Stafford.
“It’s so important for UMW to host these types of debates to promote civic engagement,” said UMW SGA President Amira Said. “It gives students a front-row seat to an integral part of the political process.”
The following items are not allowed in the debate venue: vape pens, food/beverages, backpacks, pyrotechnics, weapons, banners or signs, disruptive behavior.
Leave a Reply