Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey and his wife, Cindy, are absolutely heartbroken after tragically losing four members of their family in a helicopter crash in Montana on Wednesday. You just don’t ever want to hear news like this, and it’s an unimaginable loss for any parent.
The devastating crash claimed the lives of their son, Zachary; his wife, Kelsey; and two of their young children: 12-year-old Vada Rose and 7-year-old Samuel. Thankfully, the couple’s third son, 10-year-old Finn, was not on the helicopter and is safe. This news was announced on Thursday by Bailey’s campaign. Bailey’s campaign said in a statement, “Darren and Cindy are heartbroken by this unimaginable loss. They are finding comfort in their faith, their family, and the prayers of so many who love and care for them.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has confirmed that it’s investigating the crash, which involved a Robinson R66 helicopter, near the town of Ekalaka in eastern Montana. According to Fox, the crash happened around 7:20 PM on Wednesday evening. It isn’t the first time a politician’s family ended up dying, but it’s always sad to see.
A helicopter crash takes the lives of a politician’s family
According to Aaron Del Mar, Bailey’s running mate, who is serving as a family spokesperson, Zachary Bailey was piloting the helicopter at the time it went down. The family was reportedly in Montana for a business trip, as Zachary was looking to expand the use of helicopters for their family’s farm business.
Zachary was described as a man of faith who first got his helicopter license years ago with the goal of delivering medical supplies and aid to people in developing countries. It’s unknown exactly what caused the crash.
Republican, 4 Members of Illinois Gov. Candidate Darren Bailey's Family, Including 2 Grandchildren, Killed in Helicopter Crash
— ROGER POTOKAR (@aaarogerp) October 23, 2025
Darren Bailey, a former state senator and farmer from southern Illinois, is currently seeking the GOP nomination for Governor in the 2026 race, having previously lost to incumbent Governor JB Pritzker in 2022. Governor Pritzker, along with other political opponents, offered condolences to the Bailey family, with the Governor getting emotional as he said, “I cannot imagine losing a child, losing two grandchildren and what they must be going through”. Unfortunately, a lot of deaths have happened recently, it feels very unsafe sometimes.
Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi also expressed that the party is grieving the tragic loss and is keeping the Bailey family in their thoughts and prayers during this unimaginable time. This whole situation is heart-crushing, and you just have to feel for the Baileys as they go through such a massive tragedy. We hope that they can find comfort, and we hope their family rests in peace.
