Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political commentator, was shot and killed at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. He was 31.
Kirk was sitting at his “Prove Me Wrong” table during his American Comeback Tour when he was shot. Videos shared on social media showed him being shot in the neck or side of his head while answering a question about gun violence, according to NPR.
President Donald Trump announced Charlie’s death on Truth Social.
Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012, was a husband and father of two. He married former Miss Arizona USA Erika Frantzve in May 2021. They had a daughter in August 2022 and a son in May 2024.
On Sept. 18, the Turning Point USA board voted unanimously to make Erika the new CEO and chairman of the board.
Here’s what to know about Charlie Kirk’s wife, Erika Frantzve Kirk, and their children:
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Charlie began dating Erika in 2018
Charlie met Erika in 2018 and said after a “very, very long dinner” that he knew “almost immediately” she was “the one,” according to a 2024 Turning Point USA video.
In September 2023, Erika shared selfies of them hugging while reflecting on their first date.
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He married Erika in May 2021
Charlie and Erika got engaged in December 2020. She announced it with a photo of them hugging while he was down on one knee.
The couple married in Scottsdale, Arizona, on May 8, 2021. Erika later described their wedding as “very intimate,” with only their closest family and no bridesmaids or groomsmen.
Erika is a former Miss Arizona USA
Erika, who often supported Charlie at events, was crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2012, according to her biography. She shared photos from that time, including visits to the Pentagon and volunteering with other contestants.
Erika played basketball at Regis University before transferring to Arizona State University, where she earned a degree in political science and international relations. She later got a master’s degree and pursued a doctorate at Liberty University.
Erika worked closely with Charlie and his organization. She hosts the Midweek Rise Up podcast, leads the BIBLE365 ministry, and founded a faith-based apparel line called PROCLAIM.
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Charlie and Erika shared two children
During their four-year marriage, the couple had two children. Their daughter was born on Aug. 23, 2022, and their son was born in May 2024. Both births were announced with photos of the family.
Just a few weeks before Charlie’s death, they celebrated their daughter’s 3rd birthday.
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Charlie kept his children private
Even though he was a public figure, Charlie kept his children’s faces and names off social media.
“We have a girl and a boy and it’s no one’s business what their names are or their faces,” he said in a June 2025 video.
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Erika becomes CEO and chairman of Turning Point USA
On Sept. 18, the Turning Point USA board announced that Erika was unanimously voted the new CEO and chairman.
“In prior discussions, Charlie expressed to multiple executives that this is what he wanted in the event of his death,” the board said in an open letter.
“It was the honor of our lives to serve as board members at Charlie’s side,” the letter continued. “Charlie prepared all of us for a moment like this one. He worked tirelessly to ensure that Turning Point USA was built to survive even the greatest tests. And now, it is our great pride to announce Erika Kirk as the new CEO and Chair of the Board for Turning Point USA.”
