Four relatives of Illinois gubernatorial hopeful Darren Bailey were killed when a helicopter piloted by his son, Zachary, crashed in a remote area near Ekalaka, Montana, on Wednesday, his campaign said. Zachary; his wife, Kelsey; and their children, Vada Rose, 12, and Samuel, 7, died; a third child was not aboard. The family was on a business trip tied to their farm’s helicopter use. The cause is unknown; the NTSB is investigating. Bailey, a former state lawmaker seeking the 2026 GOP nomination, received condolences from Gov. JB Pritzker and state Republicans.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.