Turning Point USA executives are carrying out the succession plan left by Charlie Kirk, who had identified a successor in case of his death or incapacity.
Kirk, 31, had outlined a chain of command to ensure the conservative youth organization he founded would endure beyond his leadership. Known for his charisma and critique of higher education, he helped expand Turning Point to more than 3,000 chapters nationwide.
Central to that plan was his wife, Erika Kirk. Two days after her husband’s death, Erika, 36, pledged to continue his mission. On Thursday, Turning Point’s board of directors unanimously named her the organization’s next president.
In a letter to its members, the board references King Solomon’s warning in the Book of Ecclesiastes, in the Bible. “Today we are facing such a test, yet we also know that God has prepared us with everything we need to overcome this ordeal,” they wrote.
“It was the honor of our lives to serve as board members at Charlie’s side. Charlie prepared all of us for a moment like this one. He worked tirelessly to ensure Turning Point USA was built to survive even the greatest tests. And now, it is our great pride to announce Erika Kirk as the new CEO and Chair of the Board for Turning Point,” the letter continued.
“All of us at Turning Point USA have a special role in carrying Charlie Kirk’s mantle and completing his vision of bringing us all closer to our Lord and fostering a prosperous country for generations to come,” the board continued.
“We will carry on. The attempt to destroy Charlie’s work will become our chance to make it more powerful and enduring than ever before.”
