A Democratic lawmaker in the Virginia House of Delegates is running for a newly drawn congressional district this year after playing a key role in the state’s redistricting push.
State Del. Dan Helmer announced his candidacy for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District on Wednesday. The redrawn district spans across multiple counties in northern and central Virginia.
Helmer framed himself as an anti-Trump candidate in the House race, saying he had already been opposed to the president’s agenda from beginning to end of his four-term tenure in the state legislature.
“I’ve stood up to America’s enemies overseas,” he said in a video announcement. “I’ve fought Trump’s MAGA agenda at home.”
The U.S. Army veteran-turned-state delegate touted his efforts to help pass legislation ending local law enforcement’s cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and banning ICE officers from wearing masks to keep their identities safe. He also spearheaded a bill to ensure that Virginia’s National Guard unit “is never used against” state residents.
“I’m announcing my candidacy for VA-07 to take our battle to Washington,” he said. “I’m proud to have been endorsed by dozens of Democrats — but the most important endorsement is yours. Hope you’ll join us.”
Helmer entered the race with endorsements from former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, just over half of the 84 other sitting Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly, and Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA).
Vindman currently represents the congressional district that Helmer is seeking, but the incumbent congressman plans to run for reelection in Virginia’s 1st District instead if the state’s new congressional map is approved. In that case, Vindman’s House seat would be left for the taking.
Helmer joins JP Cooney, who served as a top deputy to special counsel Jack Smith, in the Democratic primary race.
The 44-year-old state lawmaker previously ran for Congress twice. He lost the Democratic primary both times in 2018 and 2024. Helmer hopes this time will be different, especially with a ringing endorsement from Vindman.
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“There is no one else I want by my side pushing back against Trump’s attempts to shred our Constitution,” Vindman wrote in a statement. “Dan is the proven anti-Trump democracy champion we need in Congress now, and I’m proud to endorse him on day one of this campaign.”
Helmer worked behind the scenes to get other Democrats in Virginia’s legislature to consider mid-decade redistricting last fall, effectively counteracting a similar push led by Republicans in other states, though he ultimately did not take part in the map-drawing process.