Erika Kirk unanimously voted to succeed late husband Charlie Kirk as CEO of Turning Point USA

PHOENIX — Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the conservative youth action organization co-founded by Charlie Kirk, has a new leader.

The Phoenix-based organization announced Thursday that Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, was voted unanimously to become its next CEO and chair of the board.

Charlie Kirk had expressed to other TPUSA executives that he wanted Erika to take his place in the event of his death, the organization said in a post on X.

“This was what Charlie hoped for and wanted and he said so numerous times,” Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action Chief Operating Officer Tyler Bowyer said in a social media post. “We will put all force of Charlie’s spiritual, intellectual and activist capital into supporting her in every way possible.”

The Turning Point Board has unanimously elected Erika Kirk as the new CEO and Chair of the Board.

In prior discussions, Charlie expressed to multiple executives that this is what he wanted in the event of his death. pic.twitter.com/PazORgiHWP

— Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) September 18, 2025

Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking to a crowd at a TPUSA event at a Utah college on Sept. 10.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale and will feature a long list of speakers, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Who is Erika Kirk?

Erika and Charlie Kirk had been married since May 2021, according to a post on her Instagram. The couple shared two children, a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son.

Erika Kirk, who previously went by Erika Lane Frantzve, won the title of Miss Arizona USA in 2012.

She played basketball at Regis University in Denver and earned degrees in political science and international relations from Arizona State University, according to the biography on her website.

In 2019, she received a graduate-level law degree from Liberty University’s School of Law, according to her Instagram.

She is also currently working on a doctorate in biblical studies at the university, according to her website.

She runs a Christian ministry called BIBLEin365, is the owner of a faith-based clothing line called Proclaim and is the CEO and founder of nonprofit Everyday Heroes Like You, according to her LinkedIn.

Turning Point USA sees growth after death of Charlie Kirk

Turning Point became a multimillion-dollar operation under Charlie Kirk’s leadership, and was credited with helping to return President Donald Trump to office. Since Kirk’s killing, his podcast and social media have attracted millions of new followers. There has been an outpouring of interest in expanding Turning Point’s footprint on college and high school campuses, the group’s spokesperson says, and future large-scale events are continuing as planned.

“It will grow,” said Turning Point spokesperson Andrew Kolvet, who is also a producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast. “What we’re seeing is that Charlie’s legacy will be much greater, broader, and bigger than we even realized in life.”

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office this week that through “this horrible act,” Turning Point “could be maybe bigger than it could have ever been had he been there.”

“And I will say this: He’d be very happy if he saw what was going on,” Trump said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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