Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead in Utah in what the governor called a “political assassination.”
HOUSTON — Charlie Kirk, the founder of the national conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, is being remembered as a determined and influential figure by those who knew him closely, including longtime Houston conservative organizer Elizabeth “Buffie” Ingersoll.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed in what Utah’s governor called a “political assassination” while speaking at an event on Wednesday.
Ingersoll met Kirk when he was just 18 years old and quickly recognized his potential.
“Such an ubelievable loss for this world. I knew when I met him at 18, he was going to be the youngest president ever. I knew it,” she said.
Kirk often stayed at the Ingersoll family’s home in Bunker Hill when visiting Houston. As his conservative ideology matured, so did his ambitions.
“The RNC looked at him—and I won’t mention who it was at the time—and they said, ‘Oh, we don’t need you. An 18-year-old kid, whatever,’” Ingersoll recalled. “Charlie kept working and working.”
That work eventually led to the creation of Turning Point USA, which has since grown into a prominent organization with chapters on college campuses across the country. Known for its confrontational style and campus debate tours, the group has gained significant traction among young conservatives and drawn sharp criticism from opponents.
“I don’t think there’s ever been a conservative youth person who’s done so much in such a short amount of time,” Ingersoll said.
KHOU 11 political analyst and University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus said Kirk provided young conservatives with an outlet during a time of shifting political and cultural dynamics.
“He presented to young people an alternative to the politics and cultural movement happening throughout the country that he saw as a problem,” Rottinghaus said. “Young people, especially on college campuses, embraced that.”
Turning Point’s online presence, fueled by videos of Kirk’s campus debates, helped spread his message to millions. While many praised his commitment to free speech and conservative values, others found the rhetoric divisive.
“We have to have consistent debates,” Rottinghaus said. “Although people disagree with Charlie Kirk on issues, there’s no reason for violence to be a part of how this gets resolved. We have to take the temperature down.”
Following Kirk’s death, Turning Point USA’s future remains uncertain.
“I just don’t know where it’ll go,” Ingersoll admitted.
The University of Houston chapter of Turning Point declined a request for comment.
For Ingersoll, the loss is deeply personal. She watched Kirk grow from a passionate teenager into a national political figure.
“Just a great, great loss,” she said. “Way too soon.”
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