More than a month after conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing, two Republicans in Frankfort say they plan to file legislation to honor his life each year in the Bluegrass State.
In a press release on Oct. 14, which would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday, the two GOP lawmakers from Burlington — state Sen. Steve Rawlings and Rep. TJ Roberts — said each will file a bill in their respective chambers designating Oct. 14 as “Charlie Kirk Day” in Kentucky once the 2026 legislative session begins in January.
Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA and frequently spoke at forums on college campuses and other venues, was a high-profile voice for Republicans across the country before he was shot and killed on Sept. 10 at an event at Utah Valley University. A suspect, Tyler Robinson, has since been arrested and faces charges that include aggravated murder. He has not yet entered a plea but is due back in court at the end of the month.
Rawlings, first elected to the state House in 2023 before taking a Senate seat in 2025, said Kirk “dedicated his life to ensuring that every American could speak freely and think boldly” and his influence “will continue to be felt through the countless young people he inspired and the enduring strength of the ideas he championed.”
Roberts, a freshman lawmaker who wrapped up his first legislative session earlier this year, said he and Rawlings “want this day to serve not only as a commemoration of his life, but as a renewed commitment to uphold respectful dialogue, courage in the face of adversity, and the conviction that faith and truth endure.”
Kirk, an ardent ally of President Donald Trump who hosted a popular podcast and had more than 5 million followers on X before his killing, was known for taking controversial stances and defending them publicly, drawing praise after his death from Republicans who viewed him as a bastion of free speech.
Many Democrats view his legacy through a different lens, as Kirk frequently spoke out against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, gun control measures, feminism and the Islamic faith.
A resolution to honor his life and legacy in the U.S. House that described him as someone whose “commitment to civil discussion and debate stood as a model for young Americans across the political spectrum” and who worked “tirelessly to promote unity without compromising on conviction” drew steep criticism from some party members. While it passed with unanimous Republican support, 95 Democrats voted in its favor — including U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Kentucky’s lone Democratic congressman — while 58 voted against it, 38 voted present and 22 did not vote.
A representative for the Kentucky Senate Democrats did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Kentucky House Democrats said the caucus had no comment.
In a separate Oct. 14 statement, the Republican Party of Kentucky called on Americans to honor Kirk’s legacy and ask “what we can do to carry his spirit forward.”
“He believed that truth matters, that faith should guide one’s actions, while living with a clear sense of purpose,” the Kentucky GOP release said. “Charlie gave his energy to causes bigger than himself. He challenged people to think critically, to speak up, and to take responsibility.”
Lawmakers in Frankfort are set to gavel back in for the 60-day 2026 legislative session on Jan. 6.
This story may be updated.
Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Republicans to file ‘Charlie Kirk Day’ bills in 2026
