PHOENIX (AZFamily/AP) — Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen has announced plans to introduce legislation that would rename State Route 202 the “Charlie Kirk Memorial Loop 202,” to honor the late conservative activist.
In a press release, Petersen commended Kirk on his efforts to influence youth while championing his devotion to “God, family and country.” He says the Loop 202 serves as a transportation link for millions of Arizonans and wants Kirk’s contributions remembered daily by travelers.
Kirk had strong ties to the Valley. He was the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, which is headquartered in downtown Phoenix. Kirk and his family also had a home in Scottsdale, where his wife Erika went to high school.
Additionally, he was known for having close ties with leading Arizona GOP figures, including state Sen. Jake Hoffman and Tyler Bowyer.
Kirk was killed by a single shot while speaking at a Utah university in what police said was a targeted attack.
“Wednesday, September 10, 2025, will forever be noted in history as a dark day where evil in its truest form was on full display,” said Petersen. “Charlie Kirk was assassinated in cold blood by a cowardly terrorist and was targeted for his influence. But we must press forward. While Charlie Kirk cannot be replaced, this effort can make sure his legacy lives on.”
Thousands gathered at Arizona State University’s Desert Financial Arena Monday night for a candlelight vigil honoring Kirk. It was one of several events taking place ahead of the public memorial service set for Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
“We all have a role to play in carrying on Charlie’s legacy,” said Petersen. “Through God’s grace, by renaming this highway we can ensure that his name, his mission, and his witness to the gospel will endure for generations to come. Even in the midst of sorrow, God’s Word reminds us that hope endures. Renaming this highway is a small step toward honoring Charlie’s immense contribution, but it is also a call for each of us to press on in faith, to live courageously for Jesus, and to stand firm in the principles Charlie so boldly championed.”
Kirk was a polarizing figure in a divisive time in American politics.
He argued for a new conservatism that advocated for freedom of speech, challenging Big Tech and the media, and centering working-class Americans beyond the nation’s capital.
Kirk frequently repeated Trump’s false claims that former Vice President Kamala Harris was directly responsible for all immigrants who were in the U.S. illegally. He called George Floyd, a Black man whose death by a Minneapolis police officer sparked a national debate over racial injustice, a “scumbag.”
State Route 202 goes through major Phoenix-area cities, including Tempe, Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert. The bill is set to be introduced during the next legislative session, which begins on Jan. 12, 2026.
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