The House adopted a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk and condemning political violence in a largely bipartisan vote Friday that appeared to prove difficult for Democrats.
The vote was 310-58, with 95 Democrats supporting the resolution, which was brought forward by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) nine days after Kirk, a conservative activist, was fatally shot during an open-air rally in Utah.
Thirty-eight Democrats voted “present,” and 58 voted “no.”
It was a politically tough vote for many Democrats, who do not want to celebrate Kirk’s politics but have vehemently condemned the shooting and did not want to be seen as sympathizing with political violence.
Top Democratic leaders informed their caucus Thursday that they would support the resolution but told individual members to vote their conscience. It proved an agonizing decision for many Democrats, especially those representing minority communities, who were sometimes a target of Kirk’s political musings. Many viewed Kirk as a divisive figure, in the model of President Trump, not the unifier portrayed in the resolution.
“It’s a ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ situation,” Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), head of the Congressional Black Caucus, said the evening before the vote.
Johnson said ahead of the vote that there was “no reason” and “no excuse” for Democrats to vote no on the resolution, saying there was “no partisan language” in it.
That partisan dispute over Kirk’s legacy has sent shockwaves across Washington and the country at large, as the Trump administration — cheered on by the MAGA movement — has launched a crackdown against anyone who appears to belittle Kirk’s death or question his virtue, and Democrats have responded with Orwellian warnings that free speech rights are being trampled by an authoritarian president.
The resolution eulogizes Kirk, a close ally of Trump and founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, as a “courageous American patriot” who “boldly lived out his faith with conviction, courage, and compassion.” It asserts he “worked tirelessly to promote unity without compromising on conviction.”
It goes on to call Kirk’s assassination “a sobering reminder of the growing threat posed by political extremism and hatred in our society,” saying “leaders at every level—government, education, media, and beyond—must stand united in unequivocal condemnation of political violence.”
The resolution resolves that the House condemns Kirk’s assassination “and all forms of political violence”; commends law enforcement and emergency personnel for efforts in finding Kirk’s suspected shooter; and extends condolences to Kirk’s widow Erika Kirk and his two children.
It “honors the life, leadership, and legacy of Charlie Kirk, whose steadfast dedication to the Constitution, civil discourse, and Biblical truth inspired a generation to cherish and defend the blessings of liberty” and “calls upon all Americans—regardless of race, party affiliation, or creed—to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.”
The resolution amounts to a formal statement from the House but does not have the force of law.
The resolution is just the latest action from House Republicans honoring Kirk in the wake of his assassination. In the hours after the shooting, Johnson led a moment of silent prayer on the House floor, before it devolved into a shouting match between Republicans and Democrats.
And Monday, Johnson led a vigil for Kirk in the Capitol. While he invited members of both parties to participate, just a handful of Democrats attended the vigil, none of whom were the top leaders.
The Senate passed a similar, but shorter, resolution condemning Kirk’s assassination and honoring his life and legacy by unanimous consent earlier this week.
