Republican Darren Bailey to stay in Illinois governor race after family helicopter tragedy
Darren Bailey is staying in the Illinois Republican primary race for governor following the deaths of his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren in a helicopter crash, the former downstate legislator announced Monday.
In a video posted to social media about two weeks after the tragedy, Bailey said he was continuing his campaign “not for politics, but for every family trying to make it in a state that's lost its way.”
“The last two weeks have been the hardest days of our lives,” Bailey said in the three-minute video alongside his wife, Cindy. “But your prayers, your messages, and your love have carried us, and we are so grateful.”
Bailey’s son Zachary was flying the helicopter that crashed in Montana on Oct. 22. He died along with his wife, Kelsey, and two of their children, 12-year-old Vada Rose and Samuel, 7. The couple’s other child, 10-year-old Finn, was not aboard.
“This tragedy changed our family forever, but it also reminded us why we fight,” Bailey said. “Zach and Kelsey believed in an Illinois where families could build a future without being crushed by bad government and broken promises. They believed this state could do better. So do we.
“After a lot of prayer and reflection, Cindy and I have decided we're staying in this race for governor, not for politics, but for every family trying to make it in a state that's lost its way, for every parent who dreams of a better future for their children, and for every Illinoisan who knows that we can do better,” Bailey said.
The last two weeks have been some of the hardest days of Cindy’s and my life. We’re hurting, but we’re leaning on our faith, our family, and the prayers and support so many of you have shared. It truly means more than we can say.
— Darren Bailey (@DarrenBaileyIL) November 10, 2025
Many have asked if we plan to stay in the race… pic.twitter.com/N0Kyq5PrM6
The hard-line conservative said President Donald Trump had called and urged him to “‘keep fighting. Don't back down.’ That's exactly what we're going to do,” added Bailey, who lost to Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker by almost 13 percentage points in the 2022 general election.
Bailey’s among seven candidates angling for the GOP nomination this time around, a field that also includes Wirepoints researcher Ted Dabrowski, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick and video gambling mogul Rick Heidner.
Suburban residents Gregg Moore, Joseph Severino and Max Solomon have also filed petitions to appear as governor candidates on the March 17, 2026, GOP primary ballot, which is not finalized. Petition objections have been filed against Mendrick, Moore, Severino and Solomon, potentially jeopardizing their spots.