The one-year anniversary Thursday of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk comes as Republicans try to galvanize voters ahead of the midterm elections.
Kirk, 31, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Sept. 10, 2025, during a public event at a university in Utah. On his organization’s website, a memorial to the husband and father appears prominently.
His widow, Erika Kirk, has led Turning Point USA since last year and is attending the Republican midterm convention in Texas this week.
President Donald Trump remembered Kirk during a speech in Dallas on Wednesday night. Supporters have credited Kirk and Turning Point USA with helping Trump make gains with younger voters in 2024.
“Exactly one year ago tomorrow, a far-left extremist assassinated my great friend and conservative voice, Charlie Kirk, because Charlie Kirk spoke the truth,” Trump said.
In Kirk’s absence, Turning Point USA says it has seen “unprecedented expansion,” with more than 1 million students involved in its programs during the 2025-26 school year.
That support network could be important heading into November for Republicans hoping to retain control of the House and Senate. Trump has been highlighting his record over the past two years in the belief his supporters will show up at the polls to keep the GOP in charge.
“It is about explaining what the Republican Party is going to do for the American people by reminding them what they’ve already accomplished,” Republican strategist Katie Frost said.
It’s unclear whether Turning Point USA’s core demographic will provide the support Republicans are seeking. A Navigator poll released late last month found Trump’s support has fallen among Generation Z voters. Their survey found that 31% of voters born after 1997 who also voted for Trump in 2024 now say they regret it.