Gordon Helsel
Gordon C. Helsel Jr. is a former Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 91 from 2011 to 2020. He did not seek re-election in 2019.[1]
Biography
Helsel was born in Hampton, Virginia, and graduated from Poquoson High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1971. He served in the Vietnam War and received two Purple Hearts and one Bronze Star. He attended Thomas Nelson Community College and received an associate degree in occupational safety and health. His professional experience includes owning the York Box and Barrel Manufacturing Company Inc.[2]
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Helsel was assigned to the following committees:
2016 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2016 legislative session, Helsel served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2016 |
|---|
| • General laws |
| • Health, Welfare and Institutions |
| • Science and Technology |
2015 legislative session
In the 2015 legislative session, Helsel served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • General laws |
| • Health, Welfare and Institutions |
| • Science and Technology |
2014 legislative session
In the 2014 legislative session, Helsel served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2014 |
|---|
| • General laws |
| • Health, Welfare and Institutions |
| • Science and Technology |
2012-2013
In the 2012-2013 legislative session, Helsel served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2012 |
|---|
| • General laws |
| • Health, Welfare and Institutions |
| • Science and Technology |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2019
Helsel did not file to run for re-election in 2019.
2017
General election
Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2017. All 100 house seats were up for election. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 13, 2017. The filing deadline for primary election candidates was March 30, 2017. The filing deadline for non-party candidates and candidates nominated by methods other than a primary was June 13, 2017.[3] Incumbent Gordon Helsel (R) defeated Michael Wade (D) in the Virginia House of Delegates District 91 general election.[4]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 91 General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Gordon Helsel Incumbent |
56.32% | 13,877 | |
| Democratic | Michael Wade | 43.68% | 10,764 | |
| Total Votes | 24,641 | |||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections | ||||
Democratic primary election
Michael Wade ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 91 Democratic primary.[5]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 91 Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Michael Wade | ||
Republican primary election
Incumbent Gordon Helsel ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 91 Republican primary.[6]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 91 Republican Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Gordon Helsel Incumbent | ||
2015
Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2015. A primary election was held on June 9, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 26, 2015.[7] Incumbent Gordon Helsel was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[8][9]
2013
Helsel won re-election in the 2013 election for Virginia House of Delegates District 91. Helsel ran unopposed in the June 11 Republican Primary. He was unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 5, 2013.[10]
2011
On November 8, 2011, Helsel won re-election to District 91 of the Virginia House of Delegates. He was uncontested in the August 23 primary and ran unopposed in the November 8 general election.[11]
2011 special election
Helsel ran unopposed in the special election.[12]
Campaign themes
2017
Helsel’s campaign website highlighted the following issues:[13]
| “ |
Protecting Our Constitution We elect leaders to protect our Constitutional freedoms, not take them away or restrict them. But, as we have seen at the federal level with laws like the AHCA, too many politicians ignore the Constitution whenever they feel like it. As your Delegate, I will only support legislation that is in accordance with the U.S. and Virginia Constitutions. And I will always protect your Constitutional freedoms, including the right to own and carry a firearm. Creating Jobs for the 91st To attract more jobs and opportunities to the Peninsula, it is important that keep Virginia the best place in the nation for business. To do that, we need to get government out of the way. As your Delegate, I will work to make sure that businesses can come here with a minimum of red tape and regulation. I will fight against tax increases that kill jobs and make Virginia less competitive. [14] |
” |
Campaign finance summary
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Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Virginia scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 8 to March 12. A special session was held from August 18 to November 9.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Legislators are scored by the Family Foundation on their votes on bills related to "principles of life, marriage, parental authority, constitutional government and religious liberty."
- Legislators are scored based on their voting record on reproductive issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the Second Amendment.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to education.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the climate and energy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental and conservation issues.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 9 through February 24.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 10 through March 10. Special sessions were held from April 11 to May 30 and from August 30 to October 30.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 11 through February 25.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 13 through March 11.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 14 to February 28, 2015.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 8 through March 10.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 9 to February 25.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Virginia General Assembly was in regular session from January 11 to March 10.
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See also
- Virginia State Legislature
- Virginia House of Delegates
- Virginia House of Delegates Committees
- Virginia state legislative districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections Results, "House District 24," March 8, 2011
- ↑ Gordon Helsel for Virginia House of Delegates, 91st District, "Biography," accessed August 31, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Candidacy Requirements for the November 7, 2017 General Election," accessed March 21, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 November General Unofficial Results," accessed November 7, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 June Democratic Primary," accessed July 6, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 June Republican Primary," accessed July 6, 2017
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, "2015 Primary election results," accessed September 1, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, "2015 General election candidates," accessed September 1, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, “Official Results - 2013 General Election," accessed December 2, 2013
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "November 2011 General Election Official Results," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections Results, "House District 24," March 8, 2011
- ↑ Gordon Helsel for Virginia House of Delegates, 91st District, "Issues," accessed August 31, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Virginia House of Delegates District 91 2011-2020 |
Succeeded by Martha Mugler (D) |
