Four family members of Darren Bailey, a Republican candidate for governor of Illinois, were killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday. The far-right politician’s campaign announced the tragic death of his son, Zachary, his daughter-in-law, Kelsey, and their two children, ages 12 and 7, on Thursday. The crash is under investigation. Bailey, 59, and his wife, Cindy, were “heartbroken by this unimaginable loss,” the campaign shared in a social media post. In addition to his political career, Bailey runs a farm with his sons and a private Christian school alongside his wife. The family man is a former state representative and state senator of a downstate district. He previously lost the 2022 Illinois governor’s race to Democratic incumbent J.B. Pritzker, 55 percent to 42 percent, despite receiving an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. In addition, the politician lost the congressional primary to Mike Bost in 2024. However, last month, the candidate revealed his plans to seek the Republican nomination for governor again in 2026.
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