Mourners gather to honor Charlie Kirk outside the Turning Point USA offices in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025.
The president of the state Senate wants to rename a major Arizona freeway for Charlie Kirk.
"Charlie Kirk is a son of Arizona who embodied the very fabric of our founding fathers when they crafted the Bill of Rights," Warren Petersen told Capitol Media Services, a phrase he said means that the 31-yearold Kirk made Arizona his home even though he grew up and spent more than half his life in Illinois.
And that, said the Gilbert Republican and GOP candidate for attorney general, should be publicly recognized by putting his name along the 78-mile stretch of Loop 202, a road that, according to state Department of Transportation officials, carries more vehicles every day than any other Arizona highway.
"It is right that Arizonans are regularly reminded of the tremendous legacy of this champion for free speech who was assassinated for his stand, which is why I introduced this bill," Petersen said.
Segments of Loop 202 have names including Red Mountain, San Tan and the Ed Pastor Freeway, the most recently completed, 23-mile stretch named for a former Arizona Democratic congressman.
Former Republican Gov. Doug Ducey presided over the naming ceremony in 2019 when that last stretch of highway was completed. And there are signs on the road designating it as named for the former Democratic congressman.
Petersen said his measure would not overturn that, saying there's nothing wrong with segments of the freeway keeping their existing designations and having Kirk's added to them. But he did not explain whether that meant ADOT having to erect two sets of signs along the route.
Gage Skidmore/CC by 2.0
Warren Petersen.
House Minority Leader Oscar De Los Santos spoke against the proposal.
The freeway — and, in particular, the segment named for Pastor, the first Latino member of Congress from Arizona — passes through his district that includes Laveen and areas in southwest Phoenix. He said Pastor's name was put on the roadway because he was instrumental in securing the federal funds for construction.
"And that's how it should stay," De Los Santos said.
Then there's the question of having a highway with dual names.
"It would make more sense to extend Congressman Pastor's name to the entire loop to avoid confusion," he said.
But De Los Santos was careful to say that his opposition to what Petersen is proposing has nothing to do with Kirk, whose Turning Point USA was based in Arizona, or minimizing the fact that Kirk was shot to death in September while speaking at Utah Valley University.
"The murder of Charlie Kirk was horrific," he said. "We abhor and have spoken out against political violence, gun violence, and incendiary rhetoric both before and after this incident."
Several cities and towns across the Valley will consider requests to officially memorialize conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed by a gunman last month.
Senate Minority Leader Priya Sundareshan had a somewhat different response to the idea of state lawmakers considering such legislation.
"Too many people are dying, as a result of Republican inaction in gun violence prevention, for us to rename highways after all of them,'' said the Tucson Democrat.
There's also the fact that highways and geographic features generally get their names changed only after going through a review by the legislatively established Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names. And, in the case of state roads, that is done with the input of the Department of Transportation.
Petersen said his plan is superior.
"We chose the legislative route because it provides full transparency and a direct accountable vote by the people's elected representatives,'' he said.
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Inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale before the memorial service for Charlie Kirk on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale before the memorial service for Charlie Kirk in Sept. 21, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale before the memorial service for Charlie Kirk in Sept. 21, 2025.
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The crowd inside State Farm Stadium before the funeral of Charlie Kirk on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Mourners line up for Charlie Kirk's funeral in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Mourners line up for Charlie Kirk's funeral in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Mourners line up for Charlie Kirk's funeral in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Mourners line up for Charlie Kirk's funeral in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Mourners line up for Charlie Kirk's funeral in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Mourners line up for the Charlie Kirk memorial in Glendale before 8 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Mourners line up for Charlie Kirk's funeral in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025.
Chelsey Health/KJZZ
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Mourners line up for the Charlie Kirk memorial in Glendale before 8 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2025.
Chelsey Heath/KJZZ
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Mourners line up for the Charlie Kirk memorial in Glendale before 8 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Mourners line up for the Charlie Kirk memorial in Glendale before 8 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Mourners line up for the Charlie Kirk memorial in Glendale before 8 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2025.
Chelsey Heath/KJZZ
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Mourners line up for the Charlie Kirk memorial in Glendale before 8 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2025.
Chelsey Heath/KJZZ
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Mourners line up for the Charlie Kirk memorial in Glendale before 8 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2025.
Chelsey Heath/KJZZ
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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President Donald Trump speaks at the Charlie Kirk memorial on Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
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Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, speaks at the Charlie Kirk memorial on Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
Sydney Lovan/Cronkite News
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Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, speaks at the Charlie Kirk memorial on Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
Sydney Lovan/Cronkite News
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Vice President JD Vance speaks at the Charlie Kirk memorial on Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
Sydney Lovan/Cronkite News
"The board typically handles naming requests," Petersen acknowledged. "But given the magnitude of Charlie's impact and the circumstances of his death, it's appropriate for the Legislature to take this up directly."
What Petersen is proposing, however, also goes against what has been a generally accepted board policy to not name something after real people until they have been gone for at least five years. That appears designed both to avoid political controversy as well as provide the ability to look at requests with the benefit of historical perspective.
But in using the legislative process, the Senate president legally avoids going through the board — and is not subject to the board's five-year rule.
Petersen declined to say directly why he doesn't want to wait until 2030, responding instead by saying Kirk has "touched millions of lives."
"He understood that the United States of America was unique in the world, in large part, because of the unequivocal commitment to free speech," he said.
As to that five-year rule, even the board itself has ignored it.
That came in 2003 after then-Gov. Janet Napolitano pushed the board to rename what had been called Squaw Peak in Phoenix after Lori Piestewa. The Hopi tribal member who was in the Army was the first Native American woman killed in combat for the United States.
There was some objection at the time. But the majority of the board approved the change even though it came just a month after Piestewa died in Iraq after a rocket-propelled grenade hit her Humvee during an ambush.
Bypassing the board with a legislative proposal also means that the renaming plan cannot become law unless signed by Gov. Katie Hobbs. A spokesman on Tuesday declined to say whether his boss would approve it.
What Petersen is proposing to honor Kirk is not unique.
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Lucas Miles, pastor and senior director of TPUSA Faith, speaks during a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Turning Point USA Vice President of Field Operations Andrey Sypher speaks during a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Turning Point USA Chief Operating Officer Tyler Bowyer speaks during a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Jack Posobiec speaks during Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Jack Posobiec speaks during Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Center for Arizona Policy President Peter Gentala speaks during Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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“MAGA Hulk” Stephen Davis speaks during Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Attendees shine their phone flashlights during Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Rob Clements, pastor and director of ASU Catholic Newman Center, speaks at Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Attendees stand during Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Signs decorate the stage at a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. COO Tyler Bowyer said the center sign was from one of Turning Point’s first events at ASU.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Ashlee Davis speaks to KJZZ reporter Camryn Sanchez before Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Carson Carpenter speaks to KJZZ reporter Camryn Sanchez before Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Bella Keenan speaks to KJZZ reporter Camryn Sanchez before Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Turning Point's Arizona State University chapter holds a vigil event for Charlie Kirk on the Tempe campus Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
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Turning Point USA staffers register voters during a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Turning Point USA staffers and volunteers wore “I am Charlie” shirts during a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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A memorial outside Hansen Mortuary in Phoenix on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, where the motorcade carrying Charlie Kirk's casket went from Phoenix Sky Harbor.
Chelsey Heath/KJZZ
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People visit a memorial for Turning Point USA CEO and Co-Founder Charlie Kirk outside the group’s headquarters in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025. Kirk was killed a day earlier during an event at Utah Valley University.
Alexandra Medina/Cronkite News
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Mourners stand with flags across the street from the Phoenix mortuary that received Charlie Kirk's casket on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
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A memorial outside Hansen Mortuary in Phoenix on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, where the motorcade carrying Charlie Kirk's casket went from Phoenix Sky Harbor.
Chelsey Heath/KJZZ
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A memorial outside Hansen Mortuary in Phoenix on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, where the motorcade carrying Charlie Kirk's casket went from Phoenix Sky Harbor.
Chelsey Heath/KJZZ
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Mourners gather to honor Charlie Kirk outside the Turning Point USA offices in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Mourners gather to honor Charlie Kirk outside the Turning Point USA offices in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025.
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Mourners gather to honor Charlie Kirk outside the Turning Point USA offices in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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People visit a memorial for Turning Point USA CEO and Co-Founder Charlie Kirk outside the group’s headquarters in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025. Kirk was killed a day earlier during an event at Utah Valley University.
Alexandra Medina/Cronkite News
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Mourners gather to honor Charlie Kirk outside the Turning Point USA offices in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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A memorial to Charlie Kirk at the Turning Point USA campus in Phoenix on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Charlie Kirk speaking with attendees at the 2025 Student Action Summit at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, on July 11, 2025.
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People pay their respects to Charlie Kirk at a makeshift memorial at the national headquarters of Turning Point USA in Phoenix, Arizona, on Wednesday.
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The Turning Point USA campus in Phoenix on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025.
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Armed Phoenix police officers guard the Turning Point USA campus in Phoenix on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, after the fatal shooting of CEO Charlie Kirk.
Matthew Casey/KJZZ
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Cars parked outside Turning Point USA's Phoenix campus to honor Charlie Kirk on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, after he was shot and killed on Wednesday.
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The Turning Point USA campus in Phoenix on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025.
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Shane Besore, a Charlie Kirk supporter, is emotional outside the Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix on Sept. 10, 2025. Kirk, the group’s co-founder, was shot and killed hours earlier at an event in Utah.
Sydney Lovan/Cronkite News
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Charlie Kirk speaking with attendees at the 2025 Chapter Leadership Summit at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, on July 11, 2025.
Gage Skidmore/CC by 2.0
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Charlie Kirk speaking with attendees at the 2025 Student Action Summit at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, on July 13, 2025.
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Charlie Kirk speaks at Turning Point USA's annual event, AmericaFest, on Dec. 19, 2024, at the Phoenix Convention Center.
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Turning Point Founder Charlie Kirk and Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance speak with attendees at a Chase the Vote rally in Mesa on Sept. 4, 2024.
Arizona’s House and Senate are supposed to be a part-time Legislature that finishes up its work by the end of April each year, but lawmakers regularly overshoot that deadline by months as they debate budgets, bills and other issues.
Pinal County’s top prosecutor is being asked to stand down about six weeks after announcing a deal to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The agreement has been declared void.
There’s been a shortage of both housing and teachers in Arizona for a while. So, an Arizona lawmaker has an idea: use shuttered schools as housing for teachers, first responders and others.
The possibility of ICE surging into Tucson as it has in Minneapolis, and more recently Maine, has led to a public debate over how residents in southern Arizona should respond.
Arizona’s House and Senate are supposed to be a part-time Legislature that finishes up its work by the end of April each year, but lawmakers regularly overshoot that deadline by months as they debate budgets, bills and other issues.
Pinal County’s top prosecutor is being asked to stand down about six weeks after announcing a deal to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The agreement has been declared void.
There’s been a shortage of both housing and teachers in Arizona for a while. So, an Arizona lawmaker has an idea: use shuttered schools as housing for teachers, first responders and others.
The Phoenix City Council approved a controversial new law that puts new restrictions in place about providing medical care in public parks.
The possibility of ICE surging into Tucson as it has in Minneapolis, and more recently Maine, has led to a public debate over how residents in southern Arizona should respond.
