Rock Island Today

Charlie Helmick, a candidate for Illinois State House District 72, addressed the election results in a Facebook post on November 6. "We gave it our best effort, and the people of the 72nd District have made their choice," he said.

"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the men and women who supported my campaign," said Helmick, according to Facebook. "Thank you for making calls, knocking on doors, and dedicating your time. We gave it our best effort, and the people of the 72nd District have made their choice. I am proud of each and every one of you for believing in me and in our vision for a better state."

Official election results are pending from the Illinois Secretary of State. However, Ballotpedia reports that Democrat Gregg Johnson received 26,634 votes, amounting to 61% of the total. Helmick garnered 17,039 votes or 39% out of the 43,673 total votes cast. According to Ballotpedia, Helmick ran unopposed in the March 2024 Republican primary, while Johnson, the incumbent, also faced no opposition in the Democratic primary.

Screenshot of Charlie Helmick's Nov. 6 Facebook post | Charlie Helmick Facebook page

On his campaign's "Issues" page, Helmick outlined his vision: "My vision is to make Illinois a Free State where every Constitutional Right IS Protected. As a business owner, I understand the importance of Reducing Tax burdens and creating a truly Balanced Budget. Join me in building a Stronger Illinois for generations to come."

Helmick is from the Quad-Cities area and resides in Silvis. His background includes military service and roles in arts and business. He served in both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Department of Homeland Security and worked at FedEx for three decades. His political journey began around 2008 during Barack Obama's presidency when he became concerned about funds being sent overseas and advocated for redirecting investments domestically.

In 2022, Helmick entered politics by running in the Republican primary for Illinois' 17th Congressional District. As reported by Quad City Times, as a disabled veteran, he focused on healthcare issues based on his experiences with delays in accessing essential medical services.