Rock Island Today

Illinois State House District 72 candidate Charlie Helmick congratulated Sen. J.D. Vance for being named former President Donald Trump's pick for Vice President, saying, "Congratulations to fellow Marine J.D. Vance on being the choice of President Trump as V.P." He made the statement in a July 16 Facebook post.

"Congratulations to fellow Marine J.D. Vance on being the choice of President Trump as V.P," said Helmick, according to Facebook. "Comes from a working class background, Family-man, and has many successes. Great choice!"

According to CNN, J.D. Vance was selected to be former President Donald J. Trump’s Vice President on July 15 at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Vance, 39, is a freshman senator from Ohio, a veteran of the U.S. Marines, and a graduate of Ohio State University and Yale Law School. If Trump and Vance win the 2024 election, he will be the third youngest vice president in history. He is an opponent of foreign aid and has urged Republicans to support a federal ban on abortion.

Screenshot of Charlie Helmick's July 16 Facebook post | Charlie Helmick's Facebook page

In the 2022 election, Vance beat Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) to claim the Senate seat left vacant after the retirement of former Sen. Rob Portman. According to National Public Radio (NPR), Vance is known as the author of "Hillbilly Elegy," his memoir which focused on his upbringing and the struggles of the white working class in Appalachia. "Hillbilly Elegy" was made into a movie in 2020. He is a father of three and married to Usha Chilukuri Vance, a former law clerk for Chief Justice John Roberts, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, and Judge Amul Thapar.

Helmick hails from the Quad-Cities area and currently resides in Silvis. He has a diverse background that encompasses military service, arts, and business. It includes serving in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Department of Homeland Security, as well as working at FedEx for three decades. His journey into politics gained momentum around 2008 during the presidency of Barack Obama. Motivated by concerns about funds being sent overseas, Helmick passionately advocated for redirecting investments back into the domestic sphere.

According to The Quad City Times, Helmick ventured into politics by running in the Republican primary for Illinois' 17th Congressional District in 2022. As a disabled veteran, he made healthcare a central focus of his platform, drawing from his personal experiences with delays in accessing essential medical services.