TEMPE, Ariz. — A candlelight vigil at Arizona State University’s Desert Financial Arena on Monday drew students, conservative activists and Turning Point USA supporters who chanted “Charlie” and “USA,” wore red hats and “I am Charlie” T-shirts, and used the event to recruit volunteers and register voters in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing.
Speakers at the vigil called the gathering a moment to turn grief into political action and faith outreach. Tyler Bowyer, who runs Turning Point Action, told attendees, “2026 is going to be the Charlie Kirk election. 2028 will be the Kirk-Vance election,” and urged volunteers to register voters at the events. Troy Holderby, president of the ASU College Republicans, said the tragedy should spur activism: “Act. Starting a Turning Point chapter, get involved in a Turning Point chapter, register to vote, register other people to vote, and share your faith with others.” Luke Mosiman, chairman of Arizona Young Republicans, said the episode could be defining for Generation Z given Kirk’s influence among young conservatives.
Kirk, the founder and chief executive of the conservative activist group Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on Wednesday in Utah, prompting nationwide memorials and vigils on college campuses. His casket was flown on Air Force Two to Phoenix, where it is being held at a mortuary ahead of a large celebration of life service scheduled for Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Organizers said they planned to use the celebration of life to register voters. Bowyer posted on X that voter registration efforts would be underway at the Sunday event, and he wrote that county officials — including Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap — were providing as many voter registration forms as possible for the gathering. "We anticipate tens of thousands of new voters will register this week in AZ and across the country in CK’s honor," Bowyer wrote.
Large memorial displays have been set up outside the Hansen Mortuary Chapel and outside Turning Point USA’s headquarters in south Phoenix. Authorities on Sunday charged a 19-year-old man with vandalism after he allegedly attempted to destroy one of the memorials, according to local law enforcement and media reports.
Turning Point USA has been a prominent conservative presence on college campuses and among young voters, and the Arizona vigil was one of several organized by the group and allied student organizations after Kirk’s death. The event at ASU was organized by the university’s College Republicans chapter along with Turning Point USA; volunteers at the vigil registered voters and distributed materials tied to starting or joining local chapters, organizers said.
Speakers at the vigil framed their calls to action in political and religious terms. Peter Gentala, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, described Kirk’s death as “personal” and praised his influence in Arizona and nationally. Organizers and attendees said they view the mobilization as both a tribute and a practical effort to convert sympathy into civic participation ahead of the 2026 midterm and 2028 presidential elections.
The assassination has prompted a broader series of vigils and memorials across the country, concentrated on college campuses and at Turning Point USA-affiliated sites. Supporters and organizers said they expect the events to spur recruitment and engagement among younger conservatives who identified with Kirk’s messaging.
Fox News Digital and local outlets reported on the Arizona events and the broader reaction. Organizers said voter registration and chapter-building activities would continue in the coming days tied to memorial services and local gatherings. Law enforcement agencies in Utah and Arizona are continuing investigations into the shooting and into incidents at memorials, respectively.
Supporters at the vigil said they hoped the gatherings would both honor Kirk’s legacy and translate into sustained political organizing. Organizers encouraged attendees to register others, form campus chapters and participate in conservative advocacy efforts, and they positioned the events as part of a longer-term campaign to mobilize voters in Arizona and beyond.