Youngkin urges Turning Point crowd to carry on Kirk's fight for faith and freedom

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin addressed a Turning Point USA crowd at Virginia Tech on Friday night, delivering a message of faith and resilience in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death at a Turning Point event. Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist, was killed by a sniper during a similar gathering at Utah Valley University earlier this year. Youngkin framed the evening as an effort to carry Kirk’s work forward and sustain the momentum of the movement.

"You will carry the baton. You will engage. You will change minds. You will be that revival," he told students, echoing the cadence often used to describe Kirk’s mission. He asked the audience to consider the question that has become a rallying cry for Turning Point: "Who will be the next Charlie?" and answered directly: "You will be the next Charlie, all of you."

That night, Youngkin drew on Kirk’s Christian faith, saying, "That morning Charlie left us with a blueprint" to advance truth in the face of evil. He described a nation-wide revival, adding that each student in the arena is "the light" that shines in darkness. He recalled the shooting as an attempt to silence truth, but said the opposite is taking hold through a renewed commitment to faith and civic engagement.

Youngkin also praised Erika Kirk, Charlie’s wife, who has stepped into the role of Turning Point USA CEO. He told the audience that "the next leader of Turning Point is the person who knew Charlie the very best," and the crowd rose in applause as she was acknowledged.

Virginia’s gubernatorial contest sits in a high-stakes backdrop as Republicans and Democrats argue over policy and the direction of the state. The race features Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears and former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, with Kirk’s legacy shaping how some supporters frame the contest.

Beyond Virginia, Turning Point USA has continued its campus presence. On Monday, more than 2,000 people packed into the University of Minnesota for the first Turning Point USA event since Kirk’s assassination, underscoring the movement’s ongoing reach in higher education.

Memorial services for Kirk drew widespread attention in Arizona, where pastors and friends praised Erika Kirk’s forgiveness of her husband’s killer as a powerful testament to Christian faith. A memorial at State Farm Stadium in Glendale drew thousands, and images from the service circulated widely within conservative circles.

Together, the messages from Youngkin and others around Kirk’s memory have framed the moment as a revival narrative for conservatives who see engagement, dialogue and faith as central to political life. By urging students to engage respectfully in debate while defending their beliefs, he portrayed the movement as dynamic and forward-looking, even as it memorializes Kirk’s legacy.