On a day marked by somber remembrance and political maneuvering, Republicans across the United States gathered to mourn the loss of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and to rally around new leadership in Pennsylvania, sharpening the party’s focus ahead of the 2026 election cycle. The events highlighted the deep sense of urgency and division coursing through American politics as the GOP seeks to honor its fallen, defend its values, and chart a path forward in contentious times.
In Des Moines, Iowa, the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition’s annual fall banquet became a stage for both grief and resolve following the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, the cofounder of Turning Point USA, on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University. The banquet, held on September 20, opened with a moment of silence, prayer, and a memorial video dedicated to Kirk. Republican leaders, including U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio, Senator Joni Ernst, and Representative Ashley Hinson, shared personal memories of Kirk and called for renewed defense of free speech in the wake of his death.
“When I went back to look at what the last text was that I had gotten from him, I realized I hadn’t replied to it,” Noem told attendees, recalling a message Kirk sent her the day before his death urging, “We have to hold these mayors and governors accountable.” Noem lamented missing the opportunity to respond, adding, “I think he knows that.” She and Moreno announced plans to attend Kirk’s memorial service in Glendale, Arizona, alongside President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Kirk’s death has ignited a nationwide conversation about political violence and polarization. Many Republican speakers at the banquet linked the tragedy to what they described as a decline in America’s moral and spiritual fabric. Moreno argued, “I think what he would hope for us, more than anything else, is that we literally imagine this as a quite literal turning point in our country’s history.” Senator Ernst went further, contending that a “loss of spirituality” is “rampant across the folks on the left in the Democratic Party,” and drawing a connection between this and a devaluation of life.
Conservative CNN commentator Scott Jennings also weighed in, asserting that Democrats seek to “control everything,” and suggesting that those who resist face dire consequences. “If you disagree, if you speak up, if you push back… Well, we saw what happened to Charlie,” Jennings said. “Ladies and gentlemen, I submit to you tonight we have seen enough – enough.”
Despite the charged rhetoric, federal authorities have found no evidence linking Tyler Robinson, the man charged with Kirk’s shooting, to left-wing organizations, as reported by NBC News. Nevertheless, the narrative of a nation under threat resonated strongly among attendees. Ralph Reed, founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, invoked both Kirk and Trump’s own experience with assassination attempts to urge financial support for the organization, declaring, “He paid the ultimate price. I want you to think about what President Trump and his family have been put through in the last 10 years… If you’re not willing to put it all on the line, this goes away.”
The evening was not solely about remembrance. Immigration policies also featured prominently, with Noem crediting Kirk as a major supporter of Trump-era border security initiatives. Moreno, himself an immigrant from Colombia, argued that Latino voters share conservative values and criticized policies that would grant citizenship to undocumented immigrants. “Imagine that somebody takes away that honor from you, and the way they take that honor away from you is by allowing people to come here illegally and then reward them,” he said, calling such policies “insulting” and “demeaning.”
Meanwhile, in State College, Pennsylvania, the Republican Party took a significant step toward shaping its future leadership, endorsing state Treasurer Stacy Garrity as its candidate for the 2026 governor’s race. The endorsement, delivered at the party’s annual fall meeting, was nearly unanimous and marked the earliest institutional support for a gubernatorial candidate in Pennsylvania since 2010. Garrity, a retired Army Reserve colonel and former business executive, has steadily courted key county chairs and is now positioned as the de facto Republican nominee.
“I am deeply honored to accept your endorsement to serve as the next governor of Pennsylvania,” Garrity told committee members, emphasizing her small-town roots and values of “love of God, love of family and love of community.” She contrasted herself with incumbent Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, accusing him of fiscal irresponsibility and political ambition. “There is no more dangerous place in Harrisburg than standing between Josh Shapiro and a camera or a liberal donor handing him a check,” Garrity quipped. “I am not running for governor as a stepping stone to something bigger. I’m running for governor of Pennsylvania to serve you.”
Party leaders were quick to praise Garrity’s work ethic and electoral success. Guy Ciarrocchi, a Chester County delegate, remarked, “Stacy’s candidacy has shown she can bring people together. That’s what Pennsylvania needs, because government is broken.” Others cited her military background and her historic vote totals—she received more votes in her reelection campaign than any other statewide candidate in Pennsylvania history.
However, the endorsement has not gone unchallenged. State Senator Doug Mastriano, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2022, has criticized party leadership for what he called “coronating” Garrity without a primary. “We criticize the Democrats for what they did with Harris, elevating her without a fair and honest primary, but are we any different in Pennsylvania?” Mastriano asked on a conservative talk show. Despite polling that once showed him leading Garrity among Republicans, party leaders hope to avoid a divisive primary and unify behind their chosen candidate.
Garrity, for her part, is campaigning as a fiscal conservative and an ally of President Trump, expressing hope for his endorsement. “I was so honored to campaign with President Trump in 2024, he and I led the ticket, and so I will be honored to get his endorsement,” she said. Democrats have been quick to criticize Garrity’s connections to Trump and her support for policies they argue would harm healthcare and the economy. Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Eugene DePasquale accused her of supporting measures that would “eliminate health care for 310,000 Pennsylvanians,” close rural hospitals, and cost energy jobs, while also pushing an “extreme anti-choice agenda.”
Republican leaders dismissed these attacks as distractions. Chris Vogler, committee vice chair, called abortion arguments “deflection” and insisted, “Abortion has to go through the Legislature and is not going to be outlawed in Pennsylvania.” Still, the issue remains hotly contested, with anti-abortion activists targeting Democratic Supreme Court justices and Republican legislators introducing new restrictions.
As the GOP navigates the aftermath of tragedy and the challenges of internal dissent, the party’s leaders are betting on unity, tradition, and a return to what they describe as foundational values. Whether this strategy will resonate with a broader electorate remains to be seen, but for now, Republicans are pressing forward—honoring those they’ve lost and preparing for the battles ahead.
