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Four Relatives of Illinois Gubernatorial Candidate Darren Bailey Killed in Helicopter Crash
Mediaite ^ | 10/23/2025 | Tom Durante

Posted on 10/23/2025 7:40:40 AM PDT by Miami Rebel

Four family members of Illinois gubernatorial hopeful Darren Bailey were killed in a helicopter crash in Montana on Wednesday, according to reports.

Bailey’s son, Zachary, his son’s wife Kelsey, and two of their children —Vada Rose, 12, and Samuel, 7 — perished when the helicopter went down.

The Bailey campaign released the following statement on Thursday morning:

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. Their other grandson, Finn, age 10, was not on the helicopter and is safe. 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 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.

Zachary Bailey was piloting the aircraft at the time, ABC7Chicago reported.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: candidate; crash; illinois; search
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Truly horrific. May they rest in peace.
1 posted on 10/23/2025 7:40:40 AM PDT by Miami Rebel
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To: Miami Rebel

Nothing is more important than family. I cannot see how this candidate proceeds with his campaign.


2 posted on 10/23/2025 7:44:23 AM PDT by Flavious_Maximus (Tony Fauci will be put on death row and die of COVID!)
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To: Miami Rebel

They’ll stop at NOTHING to stay in power.


3 posted on 10/23/2025 8:03:21 AM PDT by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
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To: All

Pritzker has his ‘Mechanics’ at work again.


4 posted on 10/23/2025 8:09:17 AM PDT by LegendHasIt
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To: BobL

“They’ll stop at NOTHING to stay in power.”

What a jaw-droppingly inappropriate sentiment to share at this time, with zero substance.


5 posted on 10/23/2025 8:12:12 AM PDT by Miami Rebel
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To: Miami Rebel
Worth mentioning, is that he is a Republican. Is there any there of nefarious actions taken, to be seen?

Keep in mind that Illinois has no term limitations for the Governor. Thus Prtizker is still running for what will be his third term, and I would not put it past him to have contacted someone to monkey with the helicopter, since the son Zachery was the one who would be operting it.

6 posted on 10/23/2025 8:14:46 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: Miami Rebel

Little to no details - mostly cut and paste from a Facebook post by the candidate. I mean ALL the media outlets - all cut and paste.

https://www.wifr.com/2025/10/23/gubernational-candidate-darren-baileys-son-daughter-in-law-two-grandchildren-killed-helicopter-crash-montana/


7 posted on 10/23/2025 8:19:34 AM PDT by ASOC
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To: Miami Rebel

Pritzker mob hit?


8 posted on 10/23/2025 8:23:33 AM PDT by montag813
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To: Miami Rebel

RIP. This is horrible.


9 posted on 10/23/2025 8:24:56 AM PDT by rrrod (6)
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To: montag813

Good question.


10 posted on 10/23/2025 8:24:58 AM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: Robert DeLong

Why such a bizarre insinuation? (And yours isn’t the first here.)

Is it unprecedented for an amateur pilot (and a helicopter one at that) to crash?

As for Darren Bailey, you should know that Pritzker clobbered him in 2022 by over 12% and in that year, Pritzker actually funded attack ad against Bailey’s Republican primary opponent.

In other words, Pritzker has shown that he LIKES running against Bailey. With this terrible tragedy, the likelihood is that Bailey will drop out.


11 posted on 10/23/2025 8:27:18 AM PDT by Miami Rebel
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To: Miami Rebel

“What a jaw-droppingly inappropriate sentiment to share at this time, with zero substance.”

They did it to the governor of Georgia, unless you think it was a 1 in one million ‘coincidence’ regarding the timing, not to mention the event itself.

Never underestimate the Democrats, particularly when they’re CELEBRATING assassinations.


12 posted on 10/23/2025 8:27:55 AM PDT by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
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To: montag813
Wouldn't be surprising.
13 posted on 10/23/2025 8:29:28 AM PDT by Major Matt Mason (Everyone that voted Trump/R in '24 needs to show up in '25 and '26.)
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To: Miami Rebel

RIP. Awful to lose almost an entire family, and the surviving child is now an orphan and lost two of his siblings.

Just not fair.

There was another crash in Montana this past Friday. A small plane crashed and took out a father, his two teenage daughters, and the family dog.

Mother is left alone...:-(


14 posted on 10/23/2025 8:31:15 AM PDT by LdSentinal
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To: LdSentinal

That’s worse.


15 posted on 10/23/2025 8:38:22 AM PDT by Miami Rebel
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To: Miami Rebel

Yup.

https://nypost.com/2025/10/20/us-news/alabama-father-two-daughters-killed-in-plane-crash-deep-in-the-montana-wilderness/


16 posted on 10/23/2025 8:40:58 AM PDT by LdSentinal
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To: Miami Rebel
Of course what you say is true, including Biley dropping out.

What is also true is that Democrats are power hungry, and they will do anything to sustain that power.

You may think that I & others are exhibiying bizarre insinuations, while you have proven time & again, that you are always way behind when it comes to seeing the reality.

I did not say that this is the reality, but it certainly does not hurt to raise the flags of concern, when you understand that the Democrats are evil, and it extends to each member of that party, and extends to the true believers that support thr Democrat Party, regardless of what crimes they commit. There is not a single one that has an iota of humanity running through their veins. Perhaps Manchin posessed an iota, but he is no longer there, but he also never did the right thing for this nation, because he was out-numbered.

17 posted on 10/23/2025 9:00:58 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: BobL

While I concur that the comment is very inappropriate, it would be foolish to ignore the possibility of politically motivated action. ‘Persuading’ one’s political opponent to drop out of a campaign is as old as civilization. It is only in recent years starting around the O’Bungle reign of error that family and friends became acceptable targets for the leftists. Even the Mob considers family off-limits. Of course it can be said that the left has even lower morals than the Mob - down there with the religion of pieces.


18 posted on 10/23/2025 9:24:20 AM PDT by ByteMercenary (Election 2020 was stolen by mail-in voting.)
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To: BobL

I’d also add that a certain segment of the left is probably raising champagne glasses celebrating it.


19 posted on 10/23/2025 9:48:40 AM PDT by TermLimits4All ("If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything.")
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To: Robert DeLong

And gambling tables...


20 posted on 10/23/2025 9:48:46 AM PDT by Harpotoo (Being a socialist is a lot easier than having to WORK like the rest of US;-))
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