Nearly 60 Democrats on Friday voted against a resolution from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to honor conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and condemn all political violence.
The resolution, which denounced the assassination of Kirk in Utah last week, passed the House with a 310-58 vote. All Republicans and 95 Democrats voted in favor, while 58 Democrats voted against it and 38 voted present.
Johnson’s resolution “honors the life, leadership, and legacy of Charlie Kirk, whose steadfast dedication to the Constitution, civil discourse, and Biblical truth inspired a generation to cherish and defend the blessings of liberty.”
It also calls upon “all Americans — regardless of race, party affiliation, or creed — to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.”
In a speech, Johnson said that after political debates, Kirk would “reach out a hand of friendship or offer an arm around the shoulder of someone who he had just defeated in a contest.”
“Why? Because it wasn’t about winning … the policy arguments. It was about the people,” he said. “And Charlie loved vigorous debate, but he loved people more.”
Prominent Democrats who voted against the resolution included Reps. Jasmine Crockett (Texas), Pramila Jayapal (Washington), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), Rashida Tlaib (Michigan), and Ilhan Omar (Minnesota).
During debate on the floor, Ocasio-Cortez attacked Kirk over his political views, labeling him a racist.
“His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans — far from ‘working tirelessly to promote unity’ as asserted by the majority in this resolution,” she wrote on X. “We can condemn his horrific assassination and the scourge of political violence without uplifting these ideas.”
House Democrat leadership agreed Thursday that they would vote in support of Johnson’s resolution.
Earlier this year, a resolution to condemn the assassination of Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband passed unanimously, with all Republicans voting in support.
The Senate on Thursday passed a resolution to recognize Kirk’s birthday on October 14 as the “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.” The resolution passed unanimously and is essentially a ceremonial move, as it lacks the authority of law.
A memorial service for Kirk is set for Sunday in Glendale, Arizona, that will feature remarks from President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other administration officials.
