by Kerry Dougherty

Poor Dan Helmer.

No one wants to be a member of Congress more than this 44-year-old man, yet so far he’s been unable to win a Democrat primary election.

Not for lack of trying.

For the time being, he’ll have to be content with his seat in the House of Delegates representing the 40th District. Small potatoes compared with Congress.

It must be frustrating. On paper, Helmer has it all: West Point grad, Rhodes Scholar, Army vet.

And yet, the voters in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District just aren’t into him.

He tried to get the Democrat nomination in that blue district in 2018, but lost to Jennifer Wexton who went on to serve until 2024 when an illness forced her to step down.

In 2024 Helmer lost the Democrat primary to Suhas Subrananyam, who is presently serving in Congress.

Helmer’s hopes soared when Virginia Democrats cooked up their illegal referendum that would redraw congressional districts across the the commonwealth. That’s when the infamous 7th Lobster District was born.

One of the claws of the lobster reportedly included Helmer’s neighborhood.

At last! Helmer had a congressional district carved out just for him. Continue reading.