Republican activist Charlie Kirk’s murder on Wednesday on a college campus in Utah inspired an outpouring of reaction in Pennsylvania. Leaders in both parties bemoaned what appears to have been an act of political violence, one that targeted a conservative influencer popular with young Americans.
“Political violence has no place in our country,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro (D). “We must speak with moral clarity. The attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying, and this growing type of unconscionable violence cannot be allowed in our society.”
Kirk, 31, founded Turning Point USA, a conservative political action group focused on reaching college-age people. He was also a well-known media personality. He was shot and killed at Utah Valley University, north of Provo, at an event he was hosting.
President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death on Truth Social and said flags should be lowered throughout the country.
“In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Sunday evening at 6 p.m.,” Trump wrote.
U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) posted, “Dina and I are praying for our friend Charlie Kirk, his wife, and their children. This horrifying trend of political violence in our country must come to an end.”
Across the aisle, McCormick’s Democratic counterpart, U.S Sen. John Fetterman, added, “Our family grieves for Charlie Kirk’s family. We must collectively find a way forward during these polarized times.”
U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) used news of the crime to denounce political violence as “despicable.”
“Morally wrong, fundamentally un-American, and intolerable in any and all forms,” Fitzpatrick said. “It cannot continue. We must stand together, across every divide, to reject it completely and recommit ourselves to resolving differences through dialogue, not destruction.”
U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) echoed those views.
“Political violence is never the answer — and we must never tolerate such despicable action. Our nation is better than this.”
“This is not the way we settle our differences in this country. Political violence is NEVER the answer. I am thankful for the quick, decisive action of first responders on the scene. My thoughts are with Charlie Kirk and his family as the situation develops,” said U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.).
Bucks County Republican Chair Pat Poprik called it a “dark day for our country. When a man who has made civil discourse and free speech his life’s work is murdered, our society suffers. Charlie Kirk has inspired a generation of conservative young men and women, and our nation is forever grateful to him for his work.”
Montgomery County GOP Chairman Christian Nascimento told DVJournal it was “heartbreaking.”
“Violence has no place in the American political arena. We need to move past this and debate our differences with ideas, not weapons. My prayers are with his family,” said Nascimento.
Kirk predicted that Trump would win Pennsylvania in 2024. In an interview with Megyn Kelly, Kirk noted that Pennsylvania Republicans traditionally resist mail-in ballots, which gives Democrats a big lead. But last year, the Democrats’ mail-in ballot lead was 700,000 fewer than in 2020.
“That is very doable,” Kirk told Kelly. “That is very achievable, obviously. So, Democrats are now in a place where they have only built an advantage of 384,000 votes.
“If Pennsylvania has a massive Election Day turnout, that is awesome news for Donald Trump. It is that simple … Pennsylvania is in a far worse place for the Democrats than it was in 2020, and Donald Trump only fell 80,000 votes short then,” Kirk said.
Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika, and their two young children.