Pam Helming

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Pam Helming

| image = (03-29-19) NY State Senator Pamela Helming during Senate Session at the NY State Capitol, Albany NY (cropped).jpg

| caption = Helming in 2019

| successor =

| party = Republican

| birth_name = Pamela A. Turnbull

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|02|18}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| spouse = Gary Helming

| children = 2

| residence = Canandaigua, New York, U.S.

| education = Hiram College (BA)

| religion =

| website = [https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/pamela-helming Official website]

| term_end =

| imagesize =

| state_senate2 = New York State

| district2 = 54th

| termstart2 = January 1, 2017{{cite web|url=https://www.mpnnow.com/photogallery/NU/20170107/PHOTOGALLERY/107009999/PH/1|title=Oath of Office ceremony for Pam Helming|work=MPNnow.com|date=January 7, 2017|access-date=January 31, 2020}}

| predecessor2 = Michael Nozzolio

}}

Pamela A. Helming (born February 18, 1962) is an American politician from the state of New York. A Republican, Helming has represented Senate District 54 in the New York State Senate since 2017. Prior to her election to the State Senate, Helming served as the town supervisor for Canandaigua, New York. She was elected to that post in 2014.

Life and career

A graduate of Hiram College,{{Cite web|url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2018/10/21/pamela-helming-faces-kenan-baldridge-again-54th-state-senate-race/1694168002/|title=State Senate 54th preview: Pamela Helming vs Kenan Baldridge|date=October 31, 2018|access-date=January 31, 2020|last=Orr|first=Steve|website=Democrat and Chronicle}} Helming's career has been focused on individuals with developmental disabilities, including those who reside in group homes. She and her husband, Gary Helming, have resided in the Canandaigua, New York area for over thirty years and have raised their two children there.

{{cite web

| title = About Pam – Pam Helming for Senate

| url = http://pamhelming.com/about-pam/

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160826100748/http://pamhelming.com/about-pam/

| url-status = usurped

| archive-date = August 26, 2016

| access-date = January 9, 2017

}}

Helming was first elected to local office in 2010 as a town councilperson. In 2014, she was elected a Town Supervisor from Canandaigua, which elevated her to the county level of government.

{{cite news

| title = Pam Helming edges Floyd Rayburn in NY Senate GOP primary after absentee ballots counted

| url = http://auburnpub.com/blogs/eye_on_ny/pam-helming-edges-floyd-rayburn-in-ny-senate-gop-primary/article_b261ecd4-81a7-11e6-80f1-b3680e508d76.html

| date = September 24, 2016

| access-date = January 9, 2017

| last = Harding

| first = Robert

| work = Auburnpub.com

}}

New York State Senate

In 2016, twenty-four year incumbent Sen. Michael Nozzolio announced his impending retirement from the State Senate due to health concerns. Sen. Nozzolio represented Senate District 54. Although competitive on paper, Senate District 54 was seen as friendly to Republicans. Five candidates sought the GOP nomination for State Senate in Senate District 54 in 2016. In a tight race with very low turnout, Helming received a plurality of 33% of the vote and won the primary by 210 votes.

{{cite news

| title = Pam Helming extends lead in NY Senate GOP primary after absentees counted in three counties

| url = http://auburnpub.com/blogs/eye_on_ny/pam-helming-extends-lead-in-ny-senate-gop-primary-after/article_1b56b19c-8019-11e6-8194-b38a88342676.html

| date = September 22, 2016

| access-date = January 9, 2017

| last = Harding

| first = Robert

| work = Auburnpub.com

}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2016/Primary/2016StateLocalPrimaryElectionResults.pdf|title=NYS Board of Elections - Primary for State Senator - Election Returns September 13, 2016|access-date=January 31, 2020}}

In the 2016 general election, Helming faced Democrat Kenan S. Baldridge as well as Floyd G. Rayburn, who had come in second to Helming in the Republican primary but continued his candidacy on the Reform Party line.

{{cite news

| title = Pam Helming elected to succeed retiring state Sen. Michael Nozzolio

| url = http://auburnpub.com/news/local/pam-helming-elected-to-succeed-retiring-state-sen-michael-nozzolio/article_b539c524-7bce-5e36-9323-4b9322716737.html

| date = November 9, 2016

| access-date = January 9, 2017

| last = Craig

| first = Gwendolyn

| work = Auburnpub.com

}}

Helming prevailed with over 60% of the vote.

{{cite web

| title = Helming 'pumped' to represent region: New state senator has staff in place, plans to move regional office to Geneva

| url = http://www.fltimes.com/news/helming-pumped-to-represent-region-new-state-senator-has-staff/article_a669efae-cf6c-11e6-b819-3777a7ecdaa9.html

| date = December 31, 2016

| access-date = January 9, 2017

| last = Buchiere

| first = Steve

| work = FLTimes.com

}}

Helming was reelected in 2018 and again in 2020 with over 60% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=858119|title=Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 54 Race - Nov 06, 2018|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=February 6, 2019}}