Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) has dropped a bombshell with a hefty $1 million donation to expand Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapters across every high school and university in the Lone Star State.
In a bold move to honor the late TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, Patrick is fueling a conservative push to counter progressive influence on campuses with this significant financial boost from his campaign funds.
TPUSA, founded in 2012 by Kirk alongside mentor Bill Montgomery, has long aimed to champion freedom, free markets, and limited government among young minds. The organization took a tragic hit when Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025, while engaging with students at Utah Valley University. This heartbreaking loss, however, sparked an unexpected surge in interest nationwide.
Post-tragedy, requests to launch new TPUSA chapters at educational institutions across the country have skyrocketed. Take the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), for instance, where membership in the local chapter doubled in just five days after Kirk’s passing.
A poignant candlelight vigil at UTSA drew about 2,000 mourners, a testament to the deep impact Kirk had on students and supporters. His message resonated far beyond lecture halls.
In October 2025, TPUSA paid tribute by erecting a wooden cross outside their Phoenix-area headquarters, a somber symbol of Kirk’s enduring legacy. Even President Donald Trump honored him posthumously with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would have been Kirk’s birthday.
Back in Texas, Lt. Gov. Patrick didn’t just write a check—he shared a personal connection to Kirk’s vision. “I was always inspired by his mission ‘to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government,’” Patrick posted on X. Well, inspiration is one thing, but a million bucks is a whole other level of commitment to fight the woke wave on campus.
Patrick also reflected on a memorable moment with Kirk from years past. “As we wrapped up the call, I shared a fond memory of Charlie Kirk from President Trump’s 2017 Inauguration. Charlie and I were going to the Trump Hotel to celebrate, and walked in the door at the same time,” he recalled.
That shared history clearly left a mark, as Patrick admitted the donation wasn’t planned until a recent conversation with TPUSA executives stirred something deeper. Isn’t it curious how a single chat can turn nostalgia into a major policy push?
During a lengthy discussion with TPUSA leaders, Patrick brainstormed ways to plant chapters in every Texas school, from high schools to sprawling university campuses. Texas, with its vast size and conservative backbone, is poised to lead the charge in this expansion.
Patrick will join Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at a TPUSA event at the University of Houston on Nov. 11, 2025, to rally support for this initiative. Expect some fiery speeches against the progressive agenda that often dominates academic spaces.
This million-dollar pledge isn’t just about numbers—it’s about preserving a vision Kirk died for, one that challenges the cultural drift toward collectivism. Patrick’s contribution could be the spark that lights a conservative firestorm in education.
While some might scoff at injecting politics into schools, this move is less about partisanship and more about giving students a counterpoint to the often one-sided narratives they encounter. Balance in education shouldn’t be a radical idea, even if it ruffles a few feathers.
The outpouring of support after Kirk’s death shows a hunger for these ideas among young Texans, and Patrick’s donation is a calculated bet on that momentum. If Texas can become the epicenter of this movement, other states might take note.
Ultimately, this story isn’t just about a check—it’s about a legacy and a battle for the next generation’s worldview. With TPUSA’s growth in Texas, Kirk’s mission to empower students with conservative principles might just outlive the tragedy of his loss.
