House Democrats from Nevada Divided on Charlie Kirk Resolution

On Friday, the House voted 310-58 to approve a resolution to honor Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder, who was assassinated during a campus event at Utah Valley College.

POLITICO reports: “Notably, Democratic leaders and nearly 100 rank-and-file Democrats joined Republican to adopt the measure on a 310-58 vote…Fifty-eight Democrats opposed the resolution; another 38 voted present and 22 didn’t vote at all. Only three Democrats had failed to vote on the measure taken up immediately prior to the Kirk resolution.”

The measure, in part, condemns political violence, recognizes Kirk’s “dedication to the constitution, civil discourse, and biblical truths” and “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.”

Prior to the vote, Speaker Mike Johnson stated, “It would be it would be great for the country if Republicans and Democrats could stand together to call out political violence.”

Nevada’s Democratic Representatives were split with Reps Susie Lee (CD-3) and Dina Titus (CD-1) breaking with Republicans to adopt the measure and Rep. Stephen Horsford (CD-4), Chairman Emeritus of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) voted against it. Of the 58 Democrats who opposed the resolution, 42 are CBC members.

After the vote, The CBC said in a statement that the resolution was “not about healing, lowering the temperature of our political discourse, or even ensuring the safety of members of Congress, staff, and Capitol personnel.It is, unfortunately, an attempt to legitimize Kirk’s worldview — a worldview that includes ideas many Americans find racist, harmful, and fundamentally un-American.”

Rep. Horsford’s public rhetoric has referred to President Trump as a ‘wannabe dictator” and his administration as having “authoritarian impulses.”

Rep. Titus, who voted in support of the measure also has a history of using inciteful rhetoric against Trump, MAGA and Republicans that could, and has, provoked violence.

Most notably, on Titus’ social media, there are numerous example

• “When we don’t vote, fascism wins.”
• “Trump’s attack on Harvard is just another page from his fascist playbook.”
• “Remember that they are the ones who drafted the blueprint for this authoritarian Administration.”
• “We’ve got to stand up and fight back against those MAGA Republicans. We’ve got to fight the homophobes in their party….We’re coming after you.”
• “Donald Trump, we’re coming for you. Here it loud from Nevada…We’re coming for you…And what a day it’s gonna be.”
• “Impeach the bastard right now.”

Kirk’s assassin, Tyler Robinson, is alleged to have engraved bullet casings found by authorities, one of which read, “Hey fascist! CATCH!!! and another which contained lyrics from a song known to be used by ANTIFA and other radical Left groups. The evidence presented by authorities, along with Robinson’s family and friends confirmed that he was leaning left, especially on homosexual and transgender issues. At the time of the assassination, Robinson was living with a man who was transitioning into a woman.

The Globe reached out to Reps Horsford and Titus for comment after the vote and had not received replies at the time of publishing.