It has been one year since the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, an event that appears to have accelerated the growth of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) despite rising discontent among young voters toward the Republican Party. As of Thursday, the organization reported operating more than 3,500 high school chapters, representing an 180 percent increase since Kirk’s death. Additionally, TPUSA now boasts over 1,500 college chapters, marking a growth of more than 60 percent.
Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was killed on September 10, 2025, while addressing students at Utah Valley University in Utah. The shooting, which was captured on video, prompted the Trump administration to launch a crackdown on groups it designated as domestic terrorist organizations, including the decentralized antifascist network known as Antifa.
Kirk had previously built TPUSA into a significant organizing force within the GOP, helping to mobilize young conservative supporters. However, the group’s expanding infrastructure emerges against a backdrop of growing Republican struggles to retain youth support, particularly regarding economic conditions and the US-Israeli military conflict with Iran.
Polling data indicates a sharp decline in Trump’s approval among young men. According to a Reuters-Ipsos poll conducted in August, only 32 percent of men aged 18 to 29 approved of Trump’s performance, down from 43 percent in February 2025. This shift contrasts with Trump’s gains in the 2024 general election, where he secured 46 percent of the young male vote, a seven-point rise from 2020, according to Pew Research Center data.
Economic anxiety remains a primary driver of this dissatisfaction. A Harvard Youth Poll conducted in March and April found that half of Americans aged 18 to 29 reported that inflation significantly impacted their lives, while 45 percent stated they were struggling to make ends meet or lacked financial security. These pressures have been compounded by the war in Iran, which Moody’s Analytics estimates has added an average of $750 in household expenses.
Internal debates within TPUSA have also surfaced regarding US support for Israel. A recent poll by YouGov and The Economist revealed that only 16 percent of young people viewed US military action in Iran as the correct decision.
Despite these political headwinds, the group’s expanded network provides Republicans with substantial capacity to rally younger voters ahead of the congressional midterm elections on November 3. TPUSA plans to honor Kirk with a memorial service at Utah Valley University on Thursday, marking the first anniversary of his death. The organization will also commemorate him at the Republican Party’s inaugural midterm convention in Dallas, Texas.
Wait, 3,500 high school chapters? That’s a massive infrastructure. The midterms are going to be intense.
Charlie Kirk was a polarizing figure, but his death clearly galvanized the base. The numbers don’t lie.
The inflation stats are terrifying. If kids can’t afford rent, how exactly is TPUSA planning to fix that?
Fascinating paradox. How does an organization grow when its core demographic is actively rejecting its political allies?