AUSTIN (KXAN) — Turning Point USA, an organization that advocates for conservative politics in schools, announced Monday it has added more chapters across Texas.
That growth comes after the organization’s founder, Charlie Kirk, died earlier this year.
“We were only on 1,200 high schools the day that he passed,” a member of TPUSA said. “We are now on 3,000 high schools across the country.”
Five hundred of those chapters are on Texas campuses alone, according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
“This is about values,” Abbott said.
On Monday, excited high school and college students lined the front steps of the governor’s mansion, taking photos and proudly representing chapters of TPUSA from across the state.
“It just means Charlie’s legacy couldn’t be silenced with a bullet,” 18-year-old and student at Trinity Christian High School Noah Alexander said.
Kirk founded the group. He has been credited for reaching more conservative young voters now and before he was assassinated in September.
TPUSA’s website shows Round Rock, Smithson Valley and Buda’s Moe and Gene Johnson High School have chapters on their campuses in Central Texas. The Round Rock Independent School District told NewsNation local affiliate KXAN it has a newly formed chapter at Cedar Ridge High School. However, it said Round Rock High School’s chapter was disbanded this year.
Liberal groups, like Young Austin Democrats, in the state are also pushing to get more young people engaged in politics.
“I think there’s always the worry to say, OK, well, let’s see what they’re doing and see how we can counteract whatever they are,” President of Austin Young Democrats Kevin Roberts said. “Trump has been in office for almost a year now, and a lot of voters my age are dissatisfied with what has happened, whether it be on the economy, affordability.”
There’s a new push to launch at least 20,000 TPUSA chapters on campuses across the country, one of Kirk’s goals before he was killed, the group said Monday.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently announced he pledged $1 million in campaign funds to help every Texas school have a chapter.
Abbott also said he’ll discipline schools that are proven to stand in the way of new chapters from launching.