WASHINGTON – Arizona’s U.S. House delegation came together behind a resolution that honored Charlie Kirk, the conservative media personality slain Sept. 10.
The House approved the measure Sept. 19 on a 310-58 vote. About half of House Democrats joined with Republicans to pass the resolution.
Every representative from Arizona supported the resolution with the exception of Republican Rep. Eli Crane, an ally of Kirk’s who co-sponsored the measure but was not present for the vote. Crane’s office told The Arizona Republic that he would have voted for the resolution had he been on the floor.
It was a rare moment of bipartisan consensus for the Arizona delegation, which includes some of the country’s furthest-right and furthest-left members.
The resolution praised Kirk as “a courageous American patriot” and “a devoted Christian, who boldly lived out his faith with conviction, courage, and compassion.”
The bill also condemned political violence, calling the killing “not only a heinous act of violence, but a sobering reminder of the growing threat posed by political extremism and hatred in our society.”
The measure divided Democrats. The party has been roiled by debate over how to remember Kirk, the conservative media personality whose provocative style made him an internet sensation among young Republicans and a detested figure on the left, even as they forcefully condemn his killing.
Reps. Yassamin Ansari, D-Arizona, and Greg Stanton, D-Arizona, voted in favor of the resolution.
The resolution praised Kirk as “a model for young Americans across the political spectrum” and someone who “worked tirelessly to promote unity without compromising on conviction.”
After the vote, Rep. Andy Biggs criticized the Democrats who voted against the bill, sharing posts on social media that said the resolution “wasn’t a controversial piece of legislation” and that the no-votes were “disgraceful.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona congressmen unite behind resolution honoring Charlie Kirk
