Nearly five dozen House Democrats voted against a resolution honoring the life and legacy of assassinated Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on Friday morning.
Lawmakers voted 310 to 58 to approve the resolution introduced by House Speaker Mike Johnson and 165 GOP lawmakers. House Democrats, including Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, rejected the measure celebrating Kirk’s life by citing their disagreement with his political views.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his leadership team voted for the measure. Thirty-eight House Democrats voted “present” on the resolution and 22 Democratic lawmakers did not vote.
“Such acts of politically motivated violence are antithetical to the principles of a free republic, in which differences of opinion are to be debated—not silenced—with civility, reason, and mutual respect,” the resolution reads in part.
Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10 during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. Authorities have charged suspected assassin Tyler Robinson, 22, with aggravated murder, a capital offense. Robinson has been reported to have ties to far-left ideology.
At the time of his death Kirk was 31. The slain conservative activist leaves behind a widow and two young children.
House Democratic leadership broadcast their support for the bill in a closed-door meeting, but did not issue a recommendation to their members on how to vote, Axios first reported.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), House Republicans’ campaign arm, torched Democrats for voting against the resolution honoring Kirk’s legacy and denouncing political violence.
“The modern Democrat Party is simply too radical and unhinged to condemn a politically motivated assassination and honor a man and father of two whose only crime was loving America, winning the debate in the proper fashion, and inspiring others to do the same,” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said in a statement.
The Senate passed a similar resolution by unanimous consent earlier in the week. The upper chamber also passed a resolution to establish a “National Day of Remembrance” for the slain activist on Thursday. The commemorative day will be on Oct. 14, Kirk’s birthday.
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