Dan Helmer

Dan Helmer is an American politician and United States Army veteran. In 2018, he ran in the Democratic primary for a seat in Virginia's 10th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, but was defeated by Virginia State Senator Jennifer Wexton, who went on to defeat the Republican incumbent Congresswoman Barbara Comstock. In 2019 he successfully ran for Virginia House of Delegates’ 40th district seat, defeating Republican incumbent Delegate Tim Hugo. Helmer is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and a Rhodes Scholar.

Education and early career

Helmer graduated from West Point Academy in 2003 and began his military service as an armor officer. He served with the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq in 2004. He then received a Rhodes scholarship, with which he earned a master's degree from the University of Oxford. Afterwards, he was deployed again with the 1st Infantry Division to Afghanistan in 2007. He also spent three years in South Korea.

Helmer now helps run a small business where he works to protect veterans' healthcare. He has continued his military service in the U.S. Army Reserves, where he was selected in 2017 for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.

Political career

In 2018, Helmer was a Democratic candidate for Virginia's 10th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his campaign, Helmer received some national attention for his unique, occasionally provocative campaign ads, which led to his sparring with hosts on the conservative talk show Fox & Friends.

In 2017, one of Helmer’s campaign videos entitled "Helmer Zone" went viral, reaching number four on the YouTube trending list within 24 hours. The video, in which Helmer spoofed the film “Top Gun” and sang “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling,” garnered mixed reactions. Helmer placed 4th in the Democratic primary election on June 12, 2018.

Virginia House of Delegates

In 2019, Helmer was the Democratic candidate for Virginia's 40th House of Delegates district, running against Republican incumbent Tim Hugo. The race ultimately broke Virginia's fundraising record for a House of Delegates election, with Helmer and Hugo raising a combined $3.6 million. Helmer won with 52% of the vote.

Legislative priorities

Gun control

Helmer has long been an advocate for gun control. Helmer has focused much of his campaign on his identity as an Army veteran and his support for the gun regulations proposed by Governor Ralph Northam.

In May 2018, Helmer went to a gun show in Chantilly and demonstrated how it was possible to buy a functionally similar, but described by Helmer as "the same gun" that he had used in Afghanistan in under 10 minutes, without a background check.

In January 2020, Helmer introduced HB 567 a bill that would outlaw all indoor firing ranges in buildings with more than 50 employees in the Commonwealth of Virginia unless owned by the government.

Healthcare

After Helmer and his wife, Karen, had their second child, she was diagnosed with a condition that makes pregnancy potentially life-threatening. Dan has stated that his wife's diagnosis strengthened his dedication to expanding Virginians’ access to affordable healthcare and protecting women's reproductive rights.