By JOEY CAPPELLETTI, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House overwhelmingly passed a resolution honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Friday, but a significant number of Democrats voted against it, highlighting the deepening political divide in the wake of his assassination.

The resolution, which praised “the life and legacy” of Kirk, passed the Republican-controlled House with 310 votes in favor. While 95 Democrats supported the resolution, 58 voted against it and 38 voted “present,” effectively abstaining. Republicans had warned ahead of the vote that no one should oppose the measure, but many Democrats said they felt Kirk’s death had been politicized and that the resolution elevated views they disagreed with.

“Today’s resolution underscores the majority’s recklessness by choosing to author this condemnation and honoring on a purely partisan basis,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a high-profile Democrat who voted against the resolution. “We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was.”

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Speaker Mike Johnson said that there was “no partisan language” in the resolution and that there was “no excuse” for anyone not to vote in favor of it.

“We are honoring someone who contributed greatly to the free marketplace of ideas and public discourse and who died in a disgraceful, horrific manner,” Johnson told reporters.

The vote capped a week of heightened tensions in Congress and across a nation grappling with Kirk’s assassination and the legacy he left behind. Many on the right have blamed the left for fostering a political climate that led to his death, pushing for more than condemnation and allowing little room for criticism of his views. In the days since, backlash to such criticism has led to firings — ranging from teachers to journalists — as conservative activists have launched aggressive pressure campaigns.

“No single member of the House Democratic caucus, not a single member, condones political violence in America,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Friday.

Earlier this week, the House narrowly declined to punish one of its own over commentary in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The Republican effort to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar came after she criticized Kirk’s views of gun ownership and race relations in the aftermath of George Floyd’s 2020 death in Minneapolis. After the vote fell short, President Donald Trump responded by calling Omar “terrible.”

While Friday’s resolution aimed to honor Kirk and denounce political violence, many Democrats took issue with its language. The text described Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, as someone who was “seeking to elevate truth, foster understanding, and strengthen the Republic,” and that he stood “as a model for young Americans.”

The resolution sparked intense internal debate among Democrats. While party leadership ultimately backed it, they did not push members to vote a certain way. Some lawmakers saw it as a political trap designed to force them into endorsing Kirk’s views.

“This Republican resolution was designed as a political ‘gotcha’ — trying to force every member of Congress to lift up the views of Charlie Kirk rather than simply condemning his assassination,” said Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal in a statement. “I cannot do that.”

Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan, who was among a few in the party to attend a vigil honoring Kirk at the Capitol earlier this week, said she supported the resolution “because his horrific killing, and this volatile time require all of us to reject violence, hate, and anger without hesitation.”

Many Republicans in Congress are set to travel to Arizona on Sunday for Kirk’s funeral. Johnson, who plans to attend the funeral, gave a long tribute on the House floor on Thursday, saying the the best way to honor Kirk was to “advance the principles that he advanced, and to adopt his approach.”

National Republican Campaign Committee spokesperson Mike Marinella said that Democrats are “so consumed by hatred and political violence that they couldn’t even bring themselves to support a resolution condemning the assassination of Charlie Kirk.”

Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking in Washington contributed to this report.

Members of the Pioneer Press sports staff who cover the Vikings forecast Sunday’s game in Minneapolis against the Bengals:

DANE MIZUTANI

Carson Wentz #11 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sept. 08, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Vikings 28, Bengals 27: The battle of the backups! Carson Wentz has started 94 games in the NFL. That experience will give Wentz the slight edge over Jake Browning this weekend, and thus, the Vikings the slight edge over the Bengals.

CHARLEY WALTERS

Bengals 17, Vikings 14: J.J. McCarthy out. Joe Burrow out. Kirk Cousins lurks. The Vikings are in trouble.

JOHN SHIPLEY

Bengals 14, Vikings 12: No one knows how good Carson Wentz will be on Sunday in his first start with the Vikings, but after last week it’s difficult to pick the Vikings.

JACE FREDERICK

Vikings 23, Bengals 14: Brian Flores’ defense — the Vikings’ best unit — is a good bet to intercept Jake Browning multiple times. So if Kevin O’Connell allows himself to go vanilla and repeatedly run Jordan Mason, the Vikings should breeze to a boring, yet comfortable victory.

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Of all of the losses suffered by the Minnesota Wild last season, none hit the team harder than the sudden passing of team executive Ray Shero in April.

Shero, 62, was a senior advisor for the team at the time of his passing. He won the 2008 Stanley Cup as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On Friday, the NHL announced that Shero will be posthumously awarded the 2025 Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the U.S.

“His true legacy will be as a man who embodied the best of our game: fierce competition on the ice and welcoming fellowship off the ice,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement from the league. “Widely respected throughout hockey for his team-building acumen and eye for talent, he was even more beloved for how he treated everyone fortunate enough to have known him.”

Shero will be formally honored as part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration Dec. 10 in St. Paul. Ray Shero’s father, Fred Shero, was honored with the 1980 Lester Patrick Trophy.

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Back in 1980, Saint Paulite Sally Ordway Irvine announced a clear and inclusive vision to create “a place for lots of music — no, lots of everything! And for everybody!” She imagined a venue offering everything from opera to circus. Sally’s vision is alive today as the Ordway Center for Performing Arts has become one of the nation’s leading performing arts centers that is home to a variety of performances that encompass the finest in Broadway musicals, concerts, dance and vocal artists.

At Blaze Credit Union, our core action is to “Give Back,” and everything we do is in service to our members and the community. Blaze CU is a long-time supporter of the Ordway Center as it shares similar values, and our partnership is nothing short of harmonious. The arts hold incredible value in the lives of so many, and the Ordway’s work drives creativity and innovation, arts education, community togetherness, and significant economic impact for the state of Minnesota.

As the Ordway marks its 40th anniversary, we reflect not just on time passed, but on the legacy of art excellence, education and accessibility it has had on Saint Paul and Minnesota as a whole. And it would not be possible without you – the community supporting the arts here in Minnesota.

2025 has been a particularly eventful year at the Ordway, marking three significant milestones: Its 40th anniversary, the 25th annual Flint Hills Family Festival and the 10th year since the construction of the venue’s award-winning Concert Hall. Each represents a distinct chapter in our commitment to making the performing arts available to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

The Ordway has worked hard to live up to Sally Ordway Irvine’s original commitment. Starting with the Ordway’s grand opening in 1985 featuring artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Leontyne Price, we’ve presented countless Broadway productions like Les Misérables, RENT and SIX, concerts, dance groups, and comedians. Everyone from Alice Cooper to circus animal puppeteers have graced our stages. We want to continue to offer a wide array of performing arts to Minnesotans.

The Flint Hills Family Festival has become a cornerstone summer event, providing millions of kids and families of all backgrounds a chance to come together to experience the arts for free. Additionally, the Ordway is the shared home of the Minnesota Opera, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Schubert Club, and collectively they form the Arts Partnership, a strategic alliance and groundbreaking national model of arts collaboration.

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The Ordway as we know it today, would not exist without the incredible support of the public and the wonderful arts community in Minnesota. That’s why we are inviting you to join us for a free open house on Sunday, Sept. 21, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s our way of saying thank you! Experience backstage tours, enjoy over 30 celebratory performances, try on costumes, explore our history and participate in activities for all ages.

As Sally Ordway Irvine shared more than 40 years ago, art is for everybody. We are honored to bring world-class performing arts to our region and work to break down barriers so more people can enjoy them. We are also deeply grateful to live in a region and state with incredible artistic talents, creativity and arts lovers. Engagement is what keeps the arts alive. So, as the Ordway celebrates this anniversary, we encourage you to get involved and see live performing arts. Your seat – whether it’s at the Ordway or the wider arts community – is waiting.

Dan Stoltz, board president of the Ordway Center for Performing Arts, is president and CEO of Blaze Credit Union.