Walter D. Helmick (born April 25, 1944) is an American businessman and Democratic Party politician who served as the Commissioner of Agriculture of the state of West Virginia. He was elected to the position in 2012, defeating Republican nominee Kent Leonhardt. In 2016, Leonhardt defeated him in a rematch. Previously, he was a member of the West Virginia Senate, representing the 15th district from 1990 to 2012. Earlier he was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1988 through 1989, served on the Pocahontas County Commission and on the Pocahontas County School Board.

Walt Helmick
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture
In office
January 14, 2013 – January 16, 2017
GovernorEarl Ray Tomblin
Preceded byGus Douglass
Succeeded byKent Leonhardt
Member of the West Virginia Senate
from the 15th district
In office
December 1, 1994 – January 14, 2013
Preceded byMike Withers
Succeeded byDonald Cookman
Member of the West Virginia Senate
from the 12th district
In office
December 1, 1990 – December 1, 1994
Preceded byLarry Tucker
Succeeded byRebecca I. White
Personal details
Born (1944-04-25) April 25, 1944 (age 80)
Webster Springs, West Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseRita Fay
ChildrenTim Helmick, Sam Helmick, Brian Helmick, Shelly Helmick
Alma materWest Virginia University,
Montgomery

Electoral history

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West Virginia House of Delegates 27th District Democratic Primary Election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Martin 3,667 23.63
Democratic Walt Helmick 3,065 19.75
Democratic Bill Proudfoot 2,508 16.16
Democratic "Stratt" Ogden Sr. 2,044 13.17
Democratic Judith Seaman 1,669 10.75
Democratic James "Ross" Ware 1,160 7.47
Democratic Frank Rowe 888 5.72
Democratic Katherine Wright Fagan 519 3.34
West Virginia House of Delegates 27th District Election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walt Helmick 7,908 32.56
Democratic Joe Martin 7,034 28.96
Republican Jimmie Ryder Sr. 5,113 21.05
Republican Phillip Cupp 4,232 17.42
West Virginia Senate 12th District Democratic Primary Election, 1990
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walt Helmick 8,646 50.79
Democratic D. P. Given 4,916 28.88
Democratic George "Geo." Kallai 3,461 20.33
West Virginia Senate 12th District Election, 1990
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walt Helmick 17,339 65.86
Republican Ashley Morrissette 8,989 34.14
West Virginia Senate 15th District Election, 1994
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walt Helmick (inc.) 16,420 60.40
Republican Aubry Wilson 10,766 39.60
West Virginia Senate 15th District Democratic Primary Election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walt Helmick (inc.) 7,316 61.09
Democratic Leslee McCarty 2,934 24.50
Democratic Tom Jones 1,725 14.41
West Virginia Senate 15th District Election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walt Helmick (inc.) 14,879 60.69
Republican Les Shoemaker Jr. 9,638 39.31
West Virginia Senate 15th District Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walt Helmick (inc.) 14,630 55.70
Republican Chris Davis 10,461 39.83
Mountain Kit Patten 1,173 4.47
West Virginia Senate 15th District Election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walt Helmick (inc.) 21,509 99.57
Write-in Jeremy Donald Bauserman 92 0.43
West Virginia Senate 15th District Democratic Primary Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walt Dolph Helmick (inc.) 6,864 67.47
Democratic Thomas Paul Ditty 3,310 32.53
West Virginia Senate 15th District Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walt Dolph Helmick (inc.) 19,192 57.01
Republican Jeremy Donald Bauserman 14,470 42.99
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Democratic Primary Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walt Helmick 59,376 32.89
Democratic Sally Shepherd 44,454 24.62
Democratic Steve Miller 39,130 21.67
Democratic Joe Messineo 24,613 13.63
Democratic Bob Tabb 12,976 7.19
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walt Helmick 316,591 51.59
Republican Kent Leonhardt 297,088 48.41
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kent Leonhardt 321,560 48.41
Democratic Walt Helmick 274,191 41.28
Libertarian Buddy A. Guthrie 68,502 10.31
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Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Agriculture Commissioner of West Virginia
2012, 2016
Succeeded by