4 family members of Darren Bailey, Illinois GOP governor candidate, killed in Montana helicopter crash

Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune on Oct 23, 2025

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The son of Republican candidate for Illinois governor Darren Bailey, along with two of Bailey’s grandchildren and daughter-in-law, were killed in a helicopter crash in Montana, the former state senator’s campaign announced early Thursday.

“On Wednesday evening, Darren and his wife, Cindy, received the heartbreaking news no parent ever wants to hear. Their son, Zachary, his wife, Kelsey, and their two young children, Vada Rose, age 12, and Samuel, age 7, tragically lost their lives in a helicopter accident in Montana,” the campaign said on Facebook.

The accident comes just weeks after Bailey announced his plans to run for the GOP nomination for governor for the second time. Bailey was the Republican nominee for the office in 2022 before losing by about 13 percentage points to Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker.

Bailey’s lieutenant governor running mate, Aaron Del Mar, told The Chicago Tribune that Bailey’s son was in Montana for a business event related to helicopters since his son uses them for his family’s farm business.

Bailey’s son was piloting the helicopter when the crash occurred, Del Mar said. He did not know the cause of the crash, and more details about it were not immediately available.

The crash occurred on Wednesday at 7:21 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, and first responders were dispatched to the scene southwest of Ekalaka, Montana, a small town in the southeastern part of the state near where the state borders North Dakota and South Dakota, said Georgia Bruski, emergency manager for Carter County and the county sheriff’s administrator.

Bruski said the Carter County sheriff’s office responded to the scene, as well as the Ekalaka Volunteer Fire Department and other emergency medical services personnel.

Bruski confirmed there were four fatalities but could not provide information about their identities or additional information about the crash itself.

The NTSB said in a post on X that it is investigating “the crash of a Robinson Helicopters R66 in Ekalaka, Montana,” but provided no other details.

“Darren and Cindy are heartbroken by this unimaginable loss,” the Bailey campaign said on Facebook. “They are finding comfort in their faith, their family, and the prayers of so many who love and care for them. The Baileys deeply appreciate the kindness and support they have received and ask for privacy as they grieve and hold their loved ones close during this difficult time.”

Pritzker, who earlier on Thursday morning in a statement on X offered condolences from him and his wife, MK, said later Thursday at an unrelated news conference that they were devastated by the news of the Bailey family.

“I cannot imagine losing a child, losing two grandchildren, and what they must be going through. That’s all I can say,” said Pritzker, whose own young life was marked by the early deaths of his father and mother. “This is not a time for politics. This is a time to recognize that losing a child is one of the hardest things ever.”

This coming Monday marks the first day in Illinois of the weeklong filing period for candidates running for governor and other offices to qualify for the top ballot position in their race. Del Mar said it’s the campaign’s intention to file its petitions, but he said he hasn’t discussed those details with Bailey.

“We’re concentrating on the family right now,” Del Mar said.

In a statement, the Illinois GOP said it’s “lifting up the Bailey family, their friends and community in prayer.”

“Please join us in keeping the Bailey family in our thoughts and prayers during this unimaginable time,” the state GOP said.

At an event at the City Club of Chicago, Democrat Rahm Emanuel, a former Chicago mayor and U.S. Ambassador to Japan, asked the audience to “think about Darren Bailey.”

“It’s one of those things that you can’t prepare for. And I don’t want to say anything trite. Put him in your thoughts and prayers, take a moment to try to reach out. It’s got to be the lonesomest time for him and his family,” Emanuel said.

(Tribune reporters Olivia Olander and Rick Pearson contributed.)

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