New Wave of Gen-Z Conservatives Influenced by Charlie Kirk’s Legacy

The political landscape in Virginia is experiencing a noteworthy development this year, where the gubernatorial race is set to contend with the potential impact of Gen-Z conservative voters. This arises after an occurrence that has spurred on these younger generations, most notably 25-year-old Chloe Bolin. Chloe had ventured to partake in a Turning Point USA rally at Virginia Tech and was one among many individuals who were there, influenced by the teachings of Charlie Kirk, the co-founder of the organization.

Primarily, Chloe had stumbled upon the works of Kirk through his videos which had appeared on her TikTok ‘For You’ page. As a staunch Christian, Kirk’s ideologies drew her in; however, Chloe was not an ardent follower, his podcast wasn’t a regular listen to her. Nevertheless, upon hearing the news of Kirk’s untimely passing during a college event in Utah, she was deeply moved, and her involvement in Turning Point USA’s rally was a gesture of support for Kirk’s faith-centric political viewpoints.

With a generation like Bolin’s stricken and inspired by Kirk’s demise, there has emerged a new wave of political fervour. Republican figures are seized with the possibility of harnessing this passion in the election arena. The GOP and President Trump have, in fact, drawn a connection between Kirk’s tragic demise and their broader narrative, which paints Democrats as extremists driven by their harsh and violent ideologies.

The narrative has sparked the use of Kirk’s unfortunate passing in campaign advertorials and fundraising endeavors for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. A key litmus test of how impactful this strategy could be in mobilizing youth voter turnout may lie in the upcoming Virginia governor’s race between Republican Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger.

A seasoned political observer from Virginia perceives the Turning Point USA rally at Virginia Tech as a strategic act by Republicans to galvanize the youth, a feat that has eluded the party in many prior state-level elections. Based on a survey from Atlas Intel conducted just before the 2024 presidential race, that had a mere 3% in favour of Harris among the same demographic in the state, it appears that this in fact could be an innovative strategy.

Charlie Kirk’s influence has been evident in bridging the gap with young voters in 2024. Turning Point played a significant role in guiding voters, and even President Trump himself acknowledged Kirk and the organization’s contributions to his victory in December 2024.

Yet, Kirk’s passing has not significantly stirred the present race for Virginia’s governorship. The historical trend goes back to 1977, showing that Virginia has generally elected a governor from the party opposite of the incumbent president, with the lone exception being the election of 2013. Despite the undeniable popularity of GOP’s viewpoint, current predictions favour a Democratic victory in this year’s race.

Spanberger, a former CIA operative and Democrat, is currently ahead by approximately 10 points according to early and mid-September polls. What’s more, she seems to enjoy significant support among 18 to 29-year-old voters, where she’s leading Earle-Sears by a whopping 20%, as per a survey conducted shortly after Kirk’s tragic departure.

Virginia Tech, with a student body close to 40,000 strong, saw fewer than 3,000 students attending the Turning Point-hosted event. Observing the attendees, some of Kirk’s biggest supporters displayed anait interest in the upcoming off-year elections. The majority of students simply continued conversing with their peers, seemingly disqualified registration affairs.

In terms of future political participation, while many students expressed eagerness towards the 2028 presidential race, there was an overall uncertainty regarding their involvement in the current year or in the 2026 midterm elections. Even for Bolin, who is pursuing her doctorate in veterinary medicine, she has yet to decide whether she’ll engage in future local and state elections despite her newfound political enthusiasm catalyzed by Kirk’s passing.

She chose not to register to vote in Virginia, even though her political beliefs have been ignited more than ever due to Kirk’s untimely passing. Similarly, another 18-year-old attendee expressed his support for Earle-Sears, namely because of aligning viewpoints. Still, this individual’s priorities lie more towards preserving Kirk’s legacy rather than focusing on the immediate political climate.

The effect of Kirk’s passing on immediate GOP politics was not a primary concern for one of the speakers at the Turning Point event. Rather than focusing on the forthcoming Virginia election in his delivery, he preferred to honor Kirk’s memory. Standing alongside a display of Kirk’s hat and shirt, he urged attendees to freely voice out their politics and faith, reflecting the very essence of Kirk’s teachings.

In a poignant message to the audience, he advised them to ‘Set your sights on the long term, to do the work that doesn’t have immediate satisfaction but impacts one year, five years, 10 years.’ This sentiment, filled with the legacy of Kirk’s inspiration, was a mindful counterweight to the at times partisan zeal of political discourse.

Indeed, as this incident demonstrates, the untimely passing of an influential figure can indeed stimulate a new wave of political interest, particularly within the younger generation. Yet, it raises a question – will it be enough to sway the outcome of the Virginia gubernatorial race? Only time, and the voting booth, holds the answer to that.

While the impact of this new dynamic on future elections remains uncertain, one thing that emerges clear is that earnest political engagement, whether prompted by tragedy or conviction, carries the potential to reshape the political landscape. And in these moments, Kirk’s philosophy, promoting open conversations about politics and faith, becomes a timely reminder.

As we wait for the unfolding of this intriguing political narrative, we must reflect on the power of influence and how it shapes our electoral decisions. The poignant memory of Charlie Kirk, his beliefs instilling a newfound political fervor in many, stands as compelling evidence of personal influence in politics, even as the Virginia governor’s race remains to be definitively swayed.