PHOENIX, Sept. 18, 2025 (Muzicgh.com) — Conservative youth group Turning Point USA said it has unanimously elected Erika Kirk as chief executive and chair of its board, a week after her husband and the organization’s founder, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed during a campus event in Utah. The decision was announced in a board letter dated Sept. 17 and shared publicly on Thursday.
The board’s letter, on TPUSA letterhead and signed by members Doug De Groote, Mike Miller, Tom Sodeika and David Engelhardt, praised Charlie Kirk’s preparations for leadership continuity and called on staff and supporters to carry on his work.
Authorities have charged Tyler Robinson, 22, with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 shooting at Utah Valley University. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty, and the case is ongoing.
Erika Kirk, a former Miss Arizona USA and podcaster, said she would continue the group’s mission of mobilizing young conservatives. A public memorial for Charlie Kirk is planned for Sept. 21 in Arizona, with high-profile Republicans expected to attend, according to media reports.
Why this matters
Founded in 2012, TPUSA is one of the country’s most visible conservative campus networks and operates alongside affiliated groups Turning Point Action (a 501(c)(4) political advocacy arm) and TPUSA Faith. The organization lists its headquarters in Phoenix and says it supports 800+ college chapters nationwide.The group and its affiliates reported nearly $100 million raised in 2024 and hold an endowment of about $60.9 million, underscoring the scale of the operation Erika Kirk now leads.
TPUSA says interest has surged since the killing, with tens of thousands of inquiries to start campus chapters. Supporters frame the appointment as continuity with Charlie Kirk’s strategy of expanding student organizing and Christian conservative outreach ahead of the 2026 midterms.
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