
VA-07 Democratic nominee?
Primary 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 (West Point)
Notable personal detailsDaniel Isaac Helmer is a Democratic politician and U.S. Army veteran serving in the Virginia House of Delegates. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Korea, and has been described as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. He has run multiple campaigns for federal office and, in 2026, filed with the FEC as a Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
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.
Polls

Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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