Posted by Siseko Tapile
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When Charlie Kirk died at age 31 on October 13, 2025, a wave of tributes surged across the conservative landscape, but none proved as contentious as the move by the Wisconsin State Assembly to enshrine his memory in law.
At 9:47 p.m. Central Time on October 14, the chamber voted 63‑35 along strict party lines to adopt Assembly Joint Resolution 101 (AJR 101), designating that day as a state‑wide remembrance for the Turning Point USA founder. All 63 Republican members supported the measure; every Democrat opposed it.
Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012, a nonprofit that claimed 487,000 registered student activists by October 2025 and operated 38 state chapters with 147 full‑time staff. His meteoric rise made him a darling of the conservative media circuit, yet his critics accused him of spreading election misinformation and targeting vulnerable college students.
Born in Arlington, Virginia, Kirk spent much of his adult life traveling the country. In 2023 he opened a Wisconsin office at 202 W Washington Ave, Suite 450, Madison, cementing the Badger State as a frequent tour stop—he visited the state 17 times in 2025 alone, including a September 28 rally at the University of Wisconsin‑Whitewater that drew 2,300 attendees.
His sudden death from acute myocarditis, confirmed by the Wisconsin Medical Examiner’s Office, sent shockwaves through both the campus activist community and the political establishment.
The tribute began as Senate Joint Resolution 88 (SJR 88), filed on October 2, 2025, by Senator Julian Bradley (R‑New Berlin), Senator Chris Kapenga, and Senator Duey Stroebel. Their language called for a day of “honor and prayer” for Kirk’s family and the nation.
When the bill reached the Assembly, Representative Scott Penterman (R‑Stevens Point) offered Substitute Amendment 2, which reshaped the text into AJR 101 and inserted the phrase “extraordinary life and legacy with profound gratitude.” The amendment was introduced at 3:18 p.m. Central Time on the same day the vote would later be taken.
The floor debate stretched for two hours and seventeen minutes, beginning at 7:30 p.m. and featuring 21 speakers—12 Republicans and 9 Democrats. The most quoted line came from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R‑Rochester), who asked, “What is the bar? When do we decide someone is worthy of remembrance in this body?” That comment framed the partisan split and sparked a flurry of retorts.
Democratic leaders slammed the resolution as a partisan endorsement of a polarizing figure. Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D‑Racine) warned, “Honoring a figure who consistently spread election misinformation sets a dangerous precedent.” Representative Kalan Haywood (D‑Milwaukee) echoed the sentiment, saying, “We’re setting the bar at zero for who gets memorialized here.”
Republicans, on the other hand, framed the vote as a tribute to a man who inspired “millions of young conservatives to engage civically,” according to Senator Bradley’s response during the debate.
Religious voices also entered the fray. Pastor James B. Johnson of Christ Our Light Anglican Church in Waukesha issued a press release praising the resolution as a “faith‑based acknowledgment of Kirk’s contributions.” Conversely, University of Wisconsin‑Madison political science professor Maria Lopez labeled the move “an erosion of the institution’s credibility.”
Governor Tony Evers (D‑Madison) released a measured statement the next morning: “While I respect the legislature’s right to pass commemorative resolutions, I believe we should reserve such honors for individuals with bipartisan recognition of their contributions to Wisconsin.”
The Wisconsin move mirrors a parallel effort in Washington, D.C. On the same day, the U.S. Senate introduced S.Res. 403, sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz (R‑Texas) and co‑sponsored by 22 other Republicans, seeking a national day of remembrance for Kirk. That bill currently sits before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Analysts note that this is the first time a Wisconsin legislative body has honored a political commentator who was not a resident of the state, raising questions about the growing influence of national partisan figures on state politics.
Financially, the resolution carries a $0 price tag—it’s purely symbolic. Yet the political cost could be significant: the vote deepened the partisan divide in the Assembly and may shape upcoming elections, especially in swing districts where the timing of the tribute could be leveraged by both sides.
AJR 101 now heads to the Wisconsin State Senate for concurrence. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R‑Oostburg) scheduled a vote for October 17, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time. If passed, the resolution will be entered into the official Journal of Proceedings, cementing the date of October 14, 2025, as a state‑wide day of remembrance.
Meanwhile, Turning Point USA released a statement honoring Kirk’s “unwavering commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders,” while also pledging to continue its campus outreach programs nationwide.
Whether the Senate affirms the Assembly’s decision or lets the measure die will likely serve as a barometer for how Wisconsin’s bipartisan leadership navigates the increasingly polarized national climate.
The resolution is purely symbolic and carries no funding, so it doesn’t change Turning Point USA’s day‑to‑day activities. However, the official recognition may boost the organization’s visibility among students and could aid future recruitment drives in Wisconsin campuses.
Senators Julian Bradley, Chris Kapenga and Duey Stroebel filed SJR 88 just days after Kirk’s sudden death, aiming to capitalize on the immediate outpouring of support among conservatives and to cement his legacy before the momentum faded.
All 35 Democratic Assembly members voted against it, arguing that honoring a figure associated with election misinformation sets a dangerous precedent and that state honors should be reserved for individuals with bipartisan acclaim.
No. It is a non‑binding, symbolic measure with a $0 fiscal impact. Its primary purpose is to record an official acknowledgment within the state’s legislative journal.
If the Senate votes no, the resolution would fail to become part of the official record, effectively ending the legislative tribute. The issue could then re‑emerge in future sessions or be addressed through other ceremonial means.
Comments
Quinten Squires
It's obvious the Assembly is using a memorial bill as a political score‑card. The vote split 63‑35 and every Republican was on board, which tells you how tightly the party is wired around Kirk. Democrats see a dangerous precedent, and they aren't wrong about the optics. The whole process feels more like a rally than a sober legislative act. In the end, the resolution does nothing but widen the partisan chasm.
October 16, 2025 at 22:21
Tyler Manning
While my colleague points to partisanship, one must recognize that honoring a champion of American values is nothing short of patriotic. The resolution stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment of Wisconsin conservatives to defend liberty, and any dissent reeks of anti‑American sentiment. Moreover, the federal attempt to replicate this tribute underscores the nationwide resonance of Kirk's message. Let us not diminish the significance of commemorating a true patriot.
October 17, 2025 at 20:19