Change Research
6%4%2%0%
VA-07 Democratic nominee?
$87.8K
AUG 5, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyLiberal Democrat
Age44 years old (Sep 27, 1981)
GenderMale
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LocationVirginia
BackgroundPolitician
EducationUnited States Military Academy (B.S.)
Notable personal detailsDaniel Isaac Helmer is an American politician and U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant colonel who has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2020. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy (West Point) and earned an MPhil at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He has served deployments including Iraq, Afghanistan, and South Korea. Helmer has also been a Democratic candidate for U.S. House (VA-07) in the 2026 cycle.
SourcesShowHide
fec.goven.wikipedia.orgdanhelmer.comciclt.nettransparencyusa.orggovprofiles.comhistorical.elections.virginia.govva01republicans.orgbluevoterguide.orgbilltrack50.comballotready.orghistorica.fandom.comreddit.comfreedomindex.usfairfaxcounty.govepec.infoelections.zh-cn.virginia.govpolitifact.comwashingtonpost.comffxnow.comlis.blob.core.windows.netbillsponsor.compv-magazine-usa.comtrackbill.comamendment.appgivegreen.comgiffords.orgvotevets.orgapnews.comgovernor.virginia.govvirginiamercury.comthefreedomindex.orghodnav.house.virginia.govinstagram.comfacebook.comwashingtonexaminer.comstatenavigate.orgpunchbowl.newsnytimes.comcardinalnews.orgbluevirginia.usx.comwikidata.orgvotesmart.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgsubstack.govtrack.ushouse.govdocquery.fec.govveterans.senate.govdemocrats-energycommerce.house.govwebster.house.govbobbyscott.house.govoversightdemocrats.house.govdocs.house.govgovinfo.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports asking corporations to pay higher taxes and stands up to corporate power while also backing targeted tax relief measures (such as tax exemptions for certain veterans).
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to health care through options that let Americans buy into Medicare (repeatedly described as supporting a “Medicare-for-All option” / public-option style approach) and has backed state-level measures to increase transparency and maintain Medicaid expansion. Positions emphasize broader access rather than full single‑payer replacement of private insurance.
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Immigration & Border
Supports limiting local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and opposes local law-enforcement partnerships with federal immigration agencies. Public statements emphasize reducing local involvement in immigration enforcement rather than advocating expanded enforcement measures.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports protecting and expanding reproductive rights, including enshrining a constitutional right to reproductive freedom in Virginia; has sponsored/co‑sponsored legislative action to place a reproductive‑freedom constitutional amendment on the ballot and describes defending abortion rights as a campaign priority.
Climate & Energy
Dan Helmer supports transitioning Virginia to 100% clean energy and has sponsored/co-sponsored state legislation to advance clean energy and solar deployment. His campaign lists supporting 100% clean energy among his accomplishments and his legislative record includes votes and bills favorable to clean energy policy.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports significant gun restrictions including an assault-weapons ban, universal background checks, and red-flag (extreme risk) laws; has sponsored and championed legislation to ban certain semi-automatic/assault firearms and expand accountability for firearm manufacturers and dealers.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 14, 2026
Dan Helmer is in the news because Virginia is heading into primary elections for congressional nominees ahead of the 2026 midterms. The race includes contested contests in key House districts, and Helmer is part of that broader primary landscape as a candidate. The reporting does not give many specifics about his own campaign, so the main update is that the nomination fight is now underway.
fec.gov+54
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
VA-07 Democratic nominee?
Endorsers of Dan Helmer for VA-07 Democratic nominee?
Veterans For Responsible Leadership
Public figure
Veterans For Responsible Leadership endorsed Dan Helmer.
Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia
Public endorsement
Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia endorsed Dan Helmer.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$642.3K
$481.7K
$321.2K
$160.6K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$642.3K
$573.2K
$69.1K
$4.6K
Source: FEC