One year after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the conservative youth group he co-founded has grown sharply across the United States.
Turning Point USA has expanded its reach at colleges and high schools. It has also strengthened its position inside Republican politics.
However, the movement faces a new challenge. Some young voters who helped Donald Trump return to the White House are now showing signs of frustration with his administration.
Kirk’s legacy will take center stage at the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas. The event comes exactly one year after his death.
Charlie Kirk Legacy Continues Through Turning Point
Kirk was 31 when a gunman fatally shot him during a debate at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Authorities charged Tyler Robinson with the killing. A Utah judge recently ruled that prosecutors can seek the death penalty.
Since Kirk’s death, Turning Point USA has continued to expand. The group now reports more than 3,500 high school chapters nationwide. That represents a 180% increase.
It also has more than 1,500 college chapters. That figure has risen by more than 60%, according to spokesperson Andrew Kolvet.
The growth has continued despite major political challenges.
Josh Holstein, chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party, said the organization has added dozens of chapters in the state since Kirk’s death.
Holstein first met Kirk as a high school student at a Turning Point training event. He said the organization needed to reorganize after losing such an influential leader.
Young Voters Focus on Cost of Living
Meanwhile, economic concerns are putting pressure on Trump’s support among younger Americans.
A Harvard Youth Poll found that half of Americans between 18 and 29 said inflation affected them “a lot.” Another 45% said they struggled to make ends meet or lacked financial security.
The Iran war has also become a major concern.
A recent YouGov/Economist poll found that only 16% of young Americans supported the decision to fight the war. Younger voters also show strong opposition to military intervention.
Those views have created tension inside the Republican coalition.
Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson has criticized the conflict. Other conservative figures have also questioned U.S. policy toward Iran and Israel.
Nicole Hemmer, a Vanderbilt University history professor, said Israel and economic concerns have created significant anger among younger conservatives.
Trump Support Falls Among Young Men
Trump has also lost ground with young male voters.
Reuters/Ipsos polling showed that 32% of men aged 18 to 29 approved of Trump’s performance last month. That was down from 43% in February 2025.
Trump won 46% of young male voters in the 2024 election. That marked a seven-point increase from his 2020 result, according to Pew Research analysis.
Therefore, the decline could matter greatly in the upcoming midterm elections.
Young voters may not abandon Republicans entirely. Still, lower enthusiasm could make it harder for the party to maintain its coalition.
Turning Point USA Faces a New Political Test
Turning Point’s infrastructure remains strong. Yet experts say the political environment has changed since Kirk’s death.
Kyle Spencer, author of Raising Them Right, said Kirk built an effective youth-voter operation. However, she argued that Republicans may have lost one of their strongest rallying points.
The group once focused heavily on opposition to progressive policies and “woke” culture. Now, some young voters are showing greater interest in socialist and progressive ideas.
Jack Posobiec, a conservative commentator who worked with Kirk, said Republicans need to listen more closely to young people.
He argued that simply criticizing socialism will not address the concerns driving younger voters.
Midterms Raise the Stakes
The 2026 midterm elections could test whether Turning Point can turn its growing organization into votes.
A Tufts University survey of 5,549 young adults found that 56% of respondents aged 18 to 29 said they were extremely likely to vote in the midterms.
That figure was two points higher than a comparable survey before the 2024 presidential election.
As a result, both parties have strong reasons to court younger Americans.
For Republicans, the challenge is especially important. Turning Point USA continues to grow, but Trump’s support among young voters has weakened.
The contrast highlights the complicated legacy of Charlie Kirk.
His organization has become larger and more established. At the same time, the voters Kirk worked to bring into Republican politics are demanding answers on the economy, foreign policy and their future.
The coming midterms will show whether that frustration changes their voting choices.
