The Republican controlled legislature in Az. recently passed a bill SB1010 to rename SR-202 as the “Charlie Kirk Highway” after the slain conservative influencer was shot and killed in Utah last year.
The proposal sparked strong reaction from residents of the Valley before it was vetoed by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs— a move effectively blocking Republicans from the renaming of the Loop 202 in the East Valley after the late controversial influencer, Charlie Kirk.
The veto also came mere weeks after Hobbs vetoed another GOP-backed bill that would have created a specialty license plate in honor of Kirk.
SB1010 would have given $17 from every license plate purchased to the nonprofit branch of Turning Point USA, the controversial right-wing organization Kirk founded in 2012.
The bill has drawn sharp criticism and some support and has led to heated conversations among local leaders as well as every day citizens about how public spaces should be named and what those names represent.
The debate was about much more than re-naming a highway, it was all about “who” the highway would be renamed for. It seems the “who” matters a great deal to Arizonans.
As news of the veto spread, residents across the community shared relief and reaction to the decision.
Several residents had already raised concerns about the proposal and candidly shared their views.
Alyssa Boertman told Northeast Valley News “Being a long-term resident of the Valley I do not think that our highway should be renamed after a person that expressed opinions segregating so many people. I do not agree with him. He does not deserve the honor and there are others that are far more deserving.”
Another Valley resident, Zach Reick told Northeast Valley News “It would be a waste of taxpayer dollars to rename a highway. I think the fact he went to colleges and gave kids the opportunity to voice their opinions is respectable, but no one is ever going to call it Charlie Kirk Highway.”
Allie Hubbard was one of a few who supported the renaming. “I agree with it. Charlie Kirk being from Arizona, it’s nice to be represented by someone who was born here. I stand by someone who stands by their own opinion. I stand by renaming the freeway after someone who has impacted our community.”
A former leader involved with the Turning Point USA chapter at a local high school, Charles Stahlschmidt talked about the naming issue and offered his own unique perspective from someone who used to be associated with organization—but has since changed his views.
“Currently I am a registered Democrat but, in the past, I was a Republican and leading up to the 2020 election I ran a Turning Point USA chapter at my high school. Being the president of the chapter, we helped with events at headquarters, and I got to meet Charlie Kirk. I got to have a conversation with him and shake his hand. But I no longer support the political beliefs of Charlie Kirk and do not believe we should name a highway after a polarizing figure.”
The debate of whether to rename an Arizona highway after Charlie Kirk has left a lasting impression on the community.
But Arizona is not alone.
Other communities around the nation have experienced similar controversy.
In February, County officials in Texas backtracked on a proposal to rename a road to honor Charlie Kirk the conservative podcaster.
Bastrop County officials were going to designate a portion of FM 969 the “Charlie Kirk Corridor” but after a fiery response from locals forced them to back down.
And Idaho drivers won’t be honoring Charlie Kirk with a memorial highway, at least not now.
The plan to rename Idaho’s State Highway 16 in honor of the conservative podcast and controversial activist never made it to the Statehouse floor for consideration.
