Erika Kirk Steps Up to Lead Turning Point USA

Erika Kirk on Sept. 12, two days after her husband's death.Turning Point USA via YouTube

Phoenix, Arizona – September 18, 2025 - In a unanimous decision honoring the wishes of its late founder, the board of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) has named Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as the organization’s new CEO and Chair of the Board. The announcement, made early Thursday morning, comes just eight days after Charlie Kirk’s assassination on a Utah college campus, signaling a swift move to maintain the group’s momentum in mobilizing young conservatives.

The board’s statement emphasized Charlie’s foresight in preparing for such a transition. “Charlie worked tirelessly to ensure Turning Point USA was built to survive even the greatest tests,” the board said. “He explicitly expressed to multiple executives his desire for Erika to assume leadership in the event of his death.” This precaution reflected the high-profile risks tied to his activism.

Erika Kirk, 34, formerly Erika Frantzve, steps into a role shaped by personal loss and political legacy. A former Miss Arizona USA titleholder in 2012, she hosted her own podcast before marrying Charlie in 2021 and becoming a visible presence at TPUSA events, including the organization’s high-profile Inaugural-Eve Ball in January 2025. The couple leaves behind two young children—a son who turned 1 in May and a daughter who turned 3 in August—adding depth to her new role.

Founded by Charlie Kirk in 2012, TPUSA has grown into a leading force in conservative youth outreach, with chapters on over 3,500 U.S. campuses and in all 50 states. The nonprofit played a key role in the 2024 election, credited with boosting Republican turnout among young voters, contributing to victories for President Donald Trump and other candidates. Since Charlie’s death, TPUSA has reported a surge in interest, with tens of thousands of new sign-ups to local chapters worldwide, according to internal metrics and public discussions.

In her first public address since the tragedy, delivered on September 12 via YouTube, Erika set a resolute tone for her leadership. Speaking from Arizona, she vowed to amplify her husband’s vision: “You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife, the cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.” She pledged to continue TPUSA’s campus tours—where Charlie was fatally shot at Utah Valley University on September 10—and his radio and podcast programs. “I’ll make Turning Point USA the biggest thing that this nation has ever seen,” she declared, echoing her post-election commitment to expand tours and advance the cause.

The assassination, under investigation as a politically motivated attack, has thrust TPUSA into the national spotlight amid a polarized post-election climate. President Trump, a longtime ally of Charlie Kirk, has publicly mourned his loss and praised TPUSA’s impact on his 2024 victory. Erika is set to join Trump and other prominent Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, at a memorial service in Arizona on Sunday, highlighting her emerging role in the GOP’s youth strategy ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Global media, from Le Parisien to Telemundo, have noted the leadership shift as a sign of TPUSA’s resilience. Supporters have expressed enthusiasm for Erika’s tenure, with some calling her “even more conservative than her husband” and a potential future political figure.