US EditionFour family members of Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey killed in helicopter crash, campaign says
- Darren Bailey's campaign announced on Oct. 23 that his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren died in a helicopter accident in Montana.
- Having run statewide before, Darren Bailey, Illinois gubernatorial candidate, launched a September bid to challenge Gov. J.B. Pritzker in 2026 with President Donald Trump's endorsement.
- The campaign named the victims as Zachary, Darren Bailey's son, his wife Kelsey, their children Vada Rose, 12, and Samuel, 7, while another grandchild, Finn, 10, is safe.
- The Baileys said Darren Bailey and Cindy Bailey are heartbroken and finding comfort in faith and family while Gov. J.B. Pritzker and MK Pritzker expressed they are devastated.
- Details about the accident remain unclear, with officials saying the campaign disclosed the deaths via a statement and social posts on October 23, 2025.
206 Articles
206 Articles
4 relatives of Illinois gubernatorial candidate killed in Montana helicopter crash
Four members of Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey’s family were killed in a helicopter crash in Montana, his campaign said in a statement. Bailey’s son, Zachary Bailey, his wife, Kelsey, and their two children, Vada Rose, 12, and Samuel, 7, were killed when their helicopter went down Wednesday near Ekalaka, Montana, according to the campaign. The couple’s other son, Finn, 10, was not on board. “Darren and Cindy are heartb…
Capitol Fa - Your Illinois News Radar » Responses to the terrible loss for Darren Bailey’s family (Updated)CapitolFax.com
* Isabel had this in her morning update, but I think it deserves its own post. It’s so difficult to imagine the depth of this loss… The Darren Bailey/Aaron Del Mar campaign is issuing the following statement following the horrific death of Zach Bailey, his wife and two of his three children in a helicopter [...]
4 Members of Illinois GOP Gubernatorial Candidate’s Family Killed in Helicopter Crash
Four family members of former Illinois state Sen. Darren Bailey, a Republican candidate for governor of Illinois in the 2026 general election, were killed in a helicopter crash in Ekalaka, Montana, on Oct. 22. Bailey’s son Zachary, daughter-in-law Kelsey, 12-year-old granddaughter Vada Rose, and 7-year-old grandson Samuel died in the crash, according to a statement from Bailey’s gubernatorial campaign. The campaign described the incident as an a…
Four relatives of a Republican running for governor in Illinois were killed in a helicopter crash in Montana, his campaign said Thursday.
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