When 17-year-old Emily Carter stepped up to the microphone at a Turning Point USA memorial event for Charlie Kirk last month, the high school senior from Omaha wasn’t expecting to go viral. But her brief, passionate speech pledging to “carry Charlie Kirk’s torch for the next generation of conservatives” quickly spread across social media, drawing support, criticism, and curiosity from across the political spectrum.

Her message was clear: the movement Kirk helped build isn’t fading with his death. In fact, Carter argues, it’s just beginning — and young people like her are ready to lead it into the future.

But who is Emily Carter? What does it mean to “carry Kirk’s torch”? And what does her emergence signal about the state of conservative youth activism in a post-Kirk era?

A Rising Star from the Heartland

Carter, the daughter of a small business owner and a public school teacher, describes herself as a lifelong conservative. But it wasn’t until the COVID-19 lockdowns — and, in her words, the “overreach of government and woke ideology in schools” — that she says she became politically active.

“I started watching Charlie Kirk’s podcasts during quarantine,” Carter told us in an exclusive interview. “He spoke with clarity, conviction, and courage. He made me feel like I wasn’t crazy for thinking critically about what I was being taught in school.”

By the time she was 16, Carter had launched a Turning Point USA chapter at her high school, hosting debates, distributing pocket constitutions, and organizing student-led walkouts against what she saw as “indoctrination” in the curriculum.

Her activism didn’t go unnoticed. She was invited to TPUSA’s AmericaFest in 2024, where she met Kirk briefly. “It was only a few minutes,” she recalls. “But he told me, ‘Don’t wait to be given permission to lead. Lead now.’ I’ve never forgotten that.”

What It Means to Carry the Torch

Since Kirk’s unexpected death in early August 2025, conservative circles have wrestled with the question of what comes next. Kirk wasn’t just a political organizer — he was a cultural symbol, especially for younger conservatives disillusioned with establishment politics.

At only 31 years old, Kirk had built a vast youth-centered conservative network. His social media platforms reached millions, and his organization hosted hundreds of campus events every year. His messaging, often framed around free markets, limited government, and Christian values, resonated deeply with Gen Z conservatives who felt marginalized in left-leaning academic environments.

To “carry his torch,” according to Carter, means three things:

Staying Unapologetically Conservative: “Charlie didn’t water things down to appeal to moderates,” she says. “He was bold. He said the quiet part out loud.”

Bringing the Fight to Schools and Campuses: Carter believes educational institutions are the frontlines of ideological conflict. “This is where the culture war is being fought. We need to reclaim our schools.”

Rooting Activism in Faith: Like Kirk, Carter is an evangelical Christian. She sees political engagement as a moral duty. “We’re not just fighting for politics. We’re fighting for the soul of the nation.”

Support from the Movement

Carter is not alone. Across the country, local TPUSA chapters have reported a spike in sign-ups and new interest from high school and college students since Kirk’s passing. Several young leaders have started their own podcasts, YouTube channels, and Substack newsletters with names like “Post-Kirk Patriots” and “Gen Z Right.”

Candace Owens, in a recent X (formerly Twitter) post, praised Carter by name: “Charlie lit the fire. Leaders like Emily Carter are going to carry it forward. This movement is far from over.”

Even the national TPUSA office, now led by interim director Rob Smith, has highlighted Carter in social media campaigns, branding her as part of the “Next Generation Kirk Legacy.”

Criticism and Controversy

Not everyone is celebrating.

Critics argue that Carter — and the movement she represents — inherits not just Kirk’s energy but also his divisiveness. Progressive student organizations have accused her of promoting “culture war extremism” and “fear-mongering.”

Maya Tran, a student organizer from Students for Social Equity, argues that figures like Carter are “using the language of patriotism and faith to justify attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, racial equity programs, and inclusive education.”

Carter, for her part, rejects those labels. “I don’t hate anyone,” she says. “But I’m not going to pretend boys can become girls, or that America is a fundamentally racist country. I’m not going to lie to be popular.”

She acknowledges the backlash but sees it as a sign she’s on the right track. “If you’re not being criticized, you’re probably not doing anything important.”

A Movement Without Its Founder

Kirk’s sudden death — still officially attributed to heart failure — left a leadership vacuum. Some insiders feared Turning Point USA might fragment without his singular drive and charisma.

But others argue that the next phase of the movement could be more decentralized — a grassroots revival powered by teens and young adults who came of age listening to Kirk.

Dr. Jenna Klein, a political sociologist at Georgetown University who studies youth movements, believes that Carter’s emergence reflects a broader generational shift.

“In some ways, Charlie Kirk was the last of a certain type of conservative figure — a centralizer,” Klein explains. “What we’re seeing now is the rise of ‘micro-leaders’: teenagers and 20-somethings who build influence online, build local coalitions, and personalize their message.”

Klein warns, however, that decentralization also brings challenges: “Without a single ideological compass or leader, the movement could splinter — or shift in unexpected directions.”

Looking Ahead: Carter’s Plans

This fall, Carter begins her first year at Hillsdale College, where she plans to study politics and theology. But she says her activism won’t stop there.

“I’ve already been invited to speak at three youth conservative summits,” she says. “And I’m working on launching a podcast — probably called ‘Torchbearer.’”

She’s also mentoring younger students back in Omaha who want to start their own TPUSA chapters. “If Charlie Kirk taught us anything,” she says, “it’s that we don’t need to wait for permission. We just need to start.”

Conclusion: A Legacy Rekindled

Charlie Kirk’s passing marked the end of an era in youth conservative politics. But in figures like Emily Carter, his vision finds new life. Whether she will grow into a national political figure or remain a symbolic leader of a niche youth movement remains to be seen.

What’s clear is that the torch has not gone out.

As Carter declared at the memorial event — her voice steady, her eyes filled with conviction — “The mission doesn’t die with the man. It lives in all of us who believe in truth, liberty, and courage.”