SAT . Illinois gubernatorial hopeful Darren Bailey announced on Thursday that his son, daughter-in-law, and two of his grandchildren had been killed in a helicopter crash.

Zach Bailey and Family; Darren Bailey. Credit :

bailey family;Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Illinois gubernatorial hopeful Darren Bailey announced on Thursday that his son, daughter-in-law, and two of his grandchildren had been killed in a helicopter crash
• Hours after the tragedy, Bailey’s running mate, Aaron Del Mar, speaks with PEOPLE about how the campaign had transitioned into the “Bailey Support Team” to help the family manage the tragedy
• Del Mar also shared that he had recently been aboard the same helicopter, as Bailey’s son flew them between campaign stops

Following a tragic helicopter crash that killed his son, daughter-in-law and two of his grandchildren on Wednesday, Oct. 22, Illinois gubernatorial hopeful Darren Bailey is putting politics on hold.

Bailey’s running mate, Aaron Del Mar, spoke with PEOPLE on Thursday, Oct. 23, sharing how their busy campaign “transitioned into the Bailey support team” in the hours following the tragedy.

“I’m heartbroken. I’m saddened. This is something that’s never supposed to happen,” Del Mar says. “My heart for the Bailey family and for our campaign and for the people of Illinois who have been touched by the Bailey family in one aspect or another, has just been- it’s soul-crushing.”

“We’ve put our campaign on hold, and all we’re trying to do is offer comfort to Darren and Cindy and their other children,” he adds.

The campaign shared the tragic news on Thursday morning, revealing that Bailey’s son Zachary, his wife, Kelsey, and two of their three children, daughter Vada Rose, 12, and son Samuel, 7, died after their helicopter crashed in Montana. Their 10-year-old son, Finn, was not aboard the aircraft and was safe.Zachary Bailey, his wife Kelsey and their children, Vada Rose, Finn and Samuel.

courtesy of the bailey family

“Darren and Cindy are heartbroken by this unimaginable loss,” the statement read. “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.”

Zach and his family, who help run the Baileys’ fourth-generation farm in Xenia, Ill., were in Montana for a farming convention. They took one of the family’s four-seater helicopters to travel to the event, and Finn rode separately with a business partner of the family, as there wasn’t room for him aboard — a fact that unwittingly spared him from the tragedy.

Del Mar, 47, tells PEOPLE he was not just close with the Bailey family — he was actually in the helicopter with them only a month and a half ago.

Zachary, who used his helicopter license for both farm business and to help his father’s campaigns, flew Bailey and Del Mar to several campaign stops around the state, ending with an evening event in DuPage.

“We’re in that helicopter for eight hours, going to each stop, and you chat and we get to know each other,” Del Mar recalls. “And the way that he spoke with reverence for his father and his mom, not a lot of people have that. I hope one day that my children speak about me in that same way. He just was a good guy.”Zach Bailey, Darren Bailey, Aaron Del Mar.

courtesy of aaron del mar

One thing that really impressed the politician about his running mate’s son was how he came to be a helicopter pilot in the first place.

“He told me that he worked with a Christian ministry group that taught him how to fly so he could deliver food in medicine to people in third-world countries,” Del Mar shares. “I think that goes to his character. I think it shows how he was a servant leader. I think it goes to his commitment and faith and helping others. The Bailey family is fully committed to faith and family.”

In addition to their family farm, the Baileys have also started a community Christian school, a nutrition company and other ventures aimed at helping their southern Illinois neighbors.

“The whole family is very active in their ministry and providing services to the community, and I think that goes to show how much they cared about the people around them,” Del Mar shares. “It’s a very sad loss that we’re feeling, not only in the Bailey family, the campaign, but the general community as well.”

Given the way he speaks of his running mate, it’s hard to believe that Del Mar and Bailey were actually political rivals and “frankly didn’t care for each other” until just a few months ago, Del Mar reveals.

They’ve “thrown rocks” at each other and endorsed one another’s opponents in recent races. They hail from very different parts of a diverse state. Del Mar was raised in Palatine, just over an hour outside Chicago, whereas Bailey lives “closer to St. Louis and Kentucky” than the metropolis.

“It wasn’t until about three months ago that we decided to put our differences aside, put our egos aside and run,” Del Mar says.

Now, he’s ready to simply support his running mate in whatever way he can. Del Mar tells PEOPLE that, hours after the tragedy, some campaign staffers were already at work on funeral plans, while others were managing the logistics of how to get the four family members home. Back to Xenia, where Bailey’s children all live within 15 minutes of their parents and the community has stepped up to embrace them amid their tragedy.

“The outpour of support and prayers is something I’ve never seen or been a part of,” Del Mar says. “I was proud to be a part of this team and be a part of it.”

“This is a tragedy no matter who it happened to, but the fact that it happened to Darren Bailey and who he is and what he’s done for the community and what he’s done for the state makes it so much more powerful,” he adds.

Del Mar says that, understandably, many things for the family are still unknown, like what will happen to Finn. But he has no doubt that the boy will be raised with love and support.

“There’s an everlasting legacy that Zach and his wife and children are going to leave,” he says. “I know the family at my core… There’s a community and aunts and uncles and cousins that are going to protect and guide him as he grows. And that offers me a small amount of comfort for the tragic loss that we’ve had.”

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As for what’s next for the campaign, Del Mar admits he doesn’t know and frankly, doesn’t care.

“You can quote me on that: I don’t care,” he repeats. “Honestly, authentically… I care about this family. They honored me by bringing me into their campaign and bringing me into the fold.”

Tragically, he also reveals that Zachary had aspirations to follow his father into politics, once again sharing his reverence for the running mate he’s come to respect so much.

“I think that Zach was going to be somebody that was going to follow in his father’s footsteps, and I hope that Finn knows that,” he says.