MS Now Axes Part of 'Morning Joe' in Significant Shake-Up

Watch: Senate Dem Turns to Conspiracy Theories When Markwayne Mullin Refuses to Play Her Games During Confirmation Hearing

As Dems Shill for Iran Against Trump, Reports Claim Iranian Security Is Raping Women So Badly That They Need Colostomy Bags and Hysterectomies

BREAKING: Sen. Kennedy Just Moved to Pass the SAVE America Act Using a Brilliant Legislative Trick That Only Requires 51 Votes

186 Democrats Kick and Scream as Critical Bill Targeting Fraudsters Narrowly Passes House

New York's Dem Gov. Is Groveling for the Wealthy to Return as Power Struggle with Mamdani Simmers

Airport Travel is About to Get Even Worse After TSA Workers Hit Back Following Funding Fiasco

AZ Legislature Passes 'Charlie Kirk' Highway Bill, But Will Dem Gov. Katie Hobbs Do the Right Thing and Sign It?

A bill to rename a highway in the Phoenix area after slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk passed the Arizona House on Wednesday, meaning it is off to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ desk for a signature, and if she’s smart politically, she’ll sign it.

The Arizona Senate already passed the legislation that would name the Loop 202 freeway, which runs on the southeast side of the Phoenix Metro area, near Turning Point USA’s headquarters, “Charlie Kirk Loop 202.”

Both the state Senate and House have a Republican majority.

Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen posted Wednesday on social media, “We’ve named sections of freeways after Democrats before — that’s nothing new. Surely we can show the same bipartisan spirit by honoring a courageous Republican who was assassinated for boldly exercising his First Amendment rights and defending freedom of speech.”

He continued, “Charlie Kirk devoted his life to empowering young Americans to think critically, reject indoctrination, and stand unapologetically for liberty. His voice was silenced by violence, but his legacy of fearless advocacy should live on — starting with this fitting tribute on one of Arizona’s busiest freeways. Let’s hope the governor does the right thing and signs it. Honoring those who die in defense of our fundamental freedoms shouldn’t be a partisan issue.”

The bill to designate Charlie Kirk Loop 202 has now passed both chambers of the Arizona Legislature and is headed to the governor’s desk. We’ve named sections of freeways after Democrats before — that’s nothing new. Surely we can show the same bipartisan spirit by honoring a… pic.twitter.com/hEjGpE7Pja — Warren Petersen (@votewarren) March 18, 2026

The bill to designate Charlie Kirk Loop 202 has now passed both chambers of the Arizona Legislature and is headed to the governor’s desk.

We’ve named sections of freeways after Democrats before — that’s nothing new. Surely we can show the same bipartisan spirit by honoring a… pic.twitter.com/hEjGpE7Pja

— Warren Petersen (@votewarren) March 18, 2026

Arizona House Majority Leader Michael Carbone told local ABC affiliate KNXV-TV on Wednesday, “I just care about what Charlie did and what he meant to a lot of people in this world. And that’s what he stood for: freedom of speech and being able to speak freely, especially on the college campuses.”

An assassin shot and killed Kirk on Sept. 10 while the Turning Point USA founder was speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

Democrat House Minority Leader Oscar De Los Santos voiced a talking point that Hobbs may grab onto if she decides to veto, telling KNXV, “We already have a process for naming highways and freeways in the state of Arizona. This would short-circuit that process by five years.”

KTAR reported that the governor has five days, excluding Sundays, to sign the bill into law or veto it.

The Arizona Capitol Times reported in January that Hobbs holds the record for the most vetoes of any governor in Arizona history, with 390 at that time, so her bipartisan bona fides are lacking, to say the least.

Earlier this month, Hobbs, who is up for re-election in November, vetoed a bill that would have created a specialty license plate honoring Kirk, with some of the proceeds going to support Turning Point USA.

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, specialty license plates cost an additional $25 upon purchase and then annually, $17 of which goes to the cause the purchaser chooses to support, such as veterans, health, and educational organizations, or even the Arizona Cardinals’ and Phoenix Suns/Mercury’s charity arms.

Katie Hobbs vetoes ‘For Charlie’ Arizona license plate bill honoring late TPUSA founderhttps://t.co/l0Zt6AoJXr — The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 7, 2026

Katie Hobbs vetoes ‘For Charlie’ Arizona license plate bill honoring late TPUSA founderhttps://t.co/l0Zt6AoJXr

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 7, 2026

Hobbs explained her decision to veto the Charlie Kirk plate, writing in a letter to Petersen, “I will continue working toward solutions that bring people together, but this bill falls short of that standard by inserting politics into a function of government that should remain nonpartisan.”

However, she also acknowledged, “Charlie Kirk’s assassination is tragic and a horrifying act of violence. In America, we resolve our political differences at the ballot box. No matter who it targets, political violence puts us all in harm’s way and damages our sacred democratic institutions.”

Well, here’s a chance for her to put something behind that sentiment and sign the highway bill into law, with an accompanying bipartisan message. In any case, it would seem likely to help her reelection chances.

Turning Point Action, TPUSA’s political arm, has already endorsed her likely competitor, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, who is leading in the GOP primary, so a decision to sign the bill into law would be a powerful gesture. But given her veto record, it may be too much of a stretch.

🚨 DO NOT MISS THIS RALLY 🚨 @TPAction_ is hosting a HUGE RALLY for Trump-endorsed ANDY BIGGS for AZ Governor! Register to be a part of the movement that will FIRE KATIE HOBBS and reclaim AZ for opportunity, prosperity and freedom! 🇺🇸 Register here ➡️ https://t.co/b4medf31Yv pic.twitter.com/HFGECPPNOn — Jake Hoffman (@JakeHoffmanAZ) May 21, 2025

🚨 DO NOT MISS THIS RALLY 🚨

@TPAction_ is hosting a HUGE RALLY for Trump-endorsed ANDY BIGGS for AZ Governor!

Register to be a part of the movement that will FIRE KATIE HOBBS and reclaim AZ for opportunity, prosperity and freedom! 🇺🇸

Register here ➡️ https://t.co/b4medf31Yv pic.twitter.com/HFGECPPNOn

— Jake Hoffman (@JakeHoffmanAZ) May 21, 2025

Hobbs will likely make a political calculation whether the approval hurts or helps her re-election chances. If she vetoes it, that will energize the right. If she approves it, that will likely help in the center.

Katie Hobbs has now vetoed over 400 bills as Governor. We need a leader who will work with and communicate with the Legislature to get things done for Arizonans, not a Veto Queen. pic.twitter.com/0LNwv5ckei — Andy Biggs (@andybiggs4az) March 17, 2026

Katie Hobbs has now vetoed over 400 bills as Governor.

We need a leader who will work with and communicate with the Legislature to get things done for Arizonans, not a Veto Queen. pic.twitter.com/0LNwv5ckei

— Andy Biggs (@andybiggs4az) March 17, 2026

The question is how much it will hurt her with the left-wing base and donors. But where are they going? The governor can point to her license plate veto and say, “I’m with you.”

Hobbs pulled out a narrow, less than 1 percent victory over Republican candidate Kari Lake in 2022, but at least 70, and likely over 130 (59 percent in all) of the polling locations in Maricopa County experienced voting machine issues on Election Day, resulting in hours-long lines. Republicans voted in greater numbers on Election Day.

In 2024, President Donald Trump won Arizona by over 5 percent of the vote.

We’ll see. I give it something like 60-40 odds that Hobbs will not approve the Charlie Kirk Highway bill, but if she’s smart, she’ll sign it into law.

We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.

AZ Legislature Passes 'Charlie Kirk' Highway Bill, But Will Dem Gov. Katie Hobbs Do the Right Thing and Sign It?

Airport Travel is About to Get Even Worse After TSA Workers Hit Back Following Funding Fiasco

86-Year-Old Chuck Norris Hospitalized After Suffering 'Medical Emergency'

Watch: Dem Rep. Raskin Gets Humiliating Correction After Claiming Founding Father Was an 'Undocumented Immigrant'

Sweet, Sweet Justice: Principal Was Getting Away with Kiddie Porn, Then He Trashed Charlie Kirk and It All Came Crashing Down

VIDEOS: Bondi Briefing Descends Into Utter Chaos as Dems Storm Out When Chair Nukes Their Plan to Publicly Lynch AG

Watch: Fetterman Blasts Newsom for 'Disgusting' Pedophile Attack on Young Man Exposing Massive Fraud in Calif.

Newsom Gets Absolutely Wrecked After He Tries to Defend $114 Million Unfinished Butterfly Bridge and Claims FL and TX Have Same Problems

Breaking: Senate Committee Narrowly Advances Markwayne Mullin's DHS Nomination with Help from Democrat

The Reason You're Tired Has Nothing to Do With How You Slept Last Night

(Note: Thank you for supporting businesses like the one presenting a sponsored message below and working with them through the links below, which benefits The Western Journal. We appreciate your […]

Get the latest news delivered right to your email.

News, Politics, Culture, and more in realtime.

Subscribe to get the latest news delivered right to your email

Subscribe to get WJ’s daily email newsletter.

Log in to your account

Please type your email into the box that says "Enter your email..." and then click the "Log in with Email".

An email with a login link will be sent to you. After clicking the link within the email, a new browser tab should open to our website on the last page you were on. You should then be logged in on that device.

Email has been sent to with a login link. Simply click this link to login. You will not need your password.

If you don't see the email immediately, please check your spam and mark it as not spam. If you entered an incorrect email, restart your login.

Lifestyle & Human Interest

About Ethics and Editorial Standards Donate Membership

Ethics and Editorial Standards

Work With Us Partnership Advertise With Us WJ Wire Content Syndication Contact Us

WJ Wire Content Syndication

Find Us Become a Member Subscribe to the Newsletter Download the WJ App Watch WJ Movies

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Explore The Western Journal

Lifestyle & Human Interest

© Western Journalism