Dorothy McAuliffe Bigfoots Fellow Democrat Dan Helmer

I almost feel sorry for Democrat Del. Dan Helmer. OK, not really.

He desperately wants to go to Congress and his twice-thwarted dream seemed within reach when Democrats drew a lobster-shaped district just for him in their new gerrymandering scheme. 

Now it looks like Helmer’s going to get his teeth kicked in.

Again. 

You see, he was bigfooted last week by Dorothy McAuliffe, wife of former Gov. Terry  McAuliffe, who jumped into the race and brought along a squad of Democrat women.

Helmer ran for Congress twice before: In 2018 when he lost to Jennifer Wexton and in 2024 when he lost to Suhas Subramanyam.

Helmer’s an unapologetic abortion and gun control enthusiast, you’d think he’d be a winner.

The delegate who’s been tirelessly campaigning for a YES vote in this spring’s gerrymandering referendum, appeared to have a district drafted just for him. You know, that lobster-shaped monstrosity.

A reward, if you will, for his loyal service to the Democrat party.

Earlier this month he announced he’l be a candidate for congress from the newly redrawn and heavily Democrat district.Clearly he was trying to get a jump on would-be challengers.

Virginia Del. Dan Helmer launched his third congressional campaign on Wednesday, backed by a slate of Democratic leaders. Just a few hours later, he brushed aside accusations that he helped engineer a congressional district for himself, arguing instead that he did exactly what his party’s leaders elected him to do: win.

On paper, Helmer is an attractive candidate. A West Point grad and Rhodes scholar, he did tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. And, as The Virginia Mercury points out, he flipped the last Republican-held House seat in Fairfax County.

Yet he’s been a reliable loser when it comes to trying to claw his way into Congress.

Finally, the lobster district looked like his ticket to Washington.

Until Dorothy McAuliffe came along, that is.

The 62-year-old lawyer and mother of five announced her candidacy for the 7th district last Wednesday.

 Nancy Pelosi immediately threw her support behind the former first lady of Virginia as did Louise Lucas, former state Attorney General Mary Sue Terry and former Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn.

Looks like the girls are solidly behind McAuliffe, leaving Helmer out in the cold once again.

Of course, there’s one more big problem: The 7th district, as gerrymandered by Democrats, may never exist. It’s imaginary at this point.

If the referendum fails on April 21 or if it passes and the Virginia Supreme Court slaps it down two days later, the map will remain the way God intended it and all of the 7th district hopefuls may have to check their addresses against the boundaries.

In the meantime, pass the popcorn and let’s enjoy the Democrat Party festival of backstabbing.