By Illinois Review
Republican gubernatorial candidate and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announced on Friday that he is postponing his upcoming campaign trip to southern Illinois out of respect for Darren Bailey and his family, who are mourning the loss of four loved ones following Wednesday’s tragic helicopter crash in Montana.
The Bailey family’s devastating loss – including the deaths of Bailey’s son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren – has shaken conservatives across Illinois. Mendrick’s decision, shared in a post on his official Facebook page late Friday afternoon, was met with praise for its decency and compassion.
“Sheriff Mendrick and I have decided out of respect to Darren Bailey and his family to postpone our trip down south,” the post read. “We will be coming down Saturday, November 15th instead. We hope everyone can attend then. Again, our condolences to the Bailey family!”
Mendrick, who entered the governor’s race earlier this Summer also plans to attend the Bailey family’s funeral services. Supporters say the move reflects the sheriff’s character – and his belief that faith, family, and community come before politics.
By contrast, Illinois Review reported earlier on Friday that fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski is pressing ahead with a six-day “Southern Illinois Tour” from November 2 through November 7 – the very week the Bailey family will hold funeral services. The tour includes stops in several counties that make up Bailey’s political base.
For many conservatives, the timing has been viewed as deeply inappropriate. Bailey’s home region – long considered the moral heart of the state’s conservative movement – is still reeling from grief. Dabrowski’s decision to campaign there while the Bailey family lays loved ones to rest has sparked criticism and raised questions about judgment and character.
Mendrick’s pause underscores a striking contrast between the two candidates. While one places compassion above politics, the other appears determined to advance his campaign schedule regardless of circumstance.
Mendrick’s decision highlights a growing divide in tone and temperament within the Republican primary field. While Dabrowski presses forward with politics as usual, Mendrick is stepping back – signaling that leadership in times of tragedy is defined not by ambition, but by empathy and respect.
