Legislation to name Loop 202 in the Phoenix area after Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist assassinated last year at Utah Valley University, was vetoed by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs on Friday. Republicans had sought to honor Kirk, whose Turning Point USA organization is based in the state, by giving him a lasting memorial on a major highway.

In her veto message, Hobbs denounced political violence but said the bill improperly politicized a decision that should be handled by a nonpartisan state board responsible for naming historic highways. “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,” she wrote.

Republican state Senate President Warren Petersen criticized the veto, arguing it broke with Arizona tradition by making recognition dependent on political alignment rather than societal contribution. “That’s not how Arizona has ever approached these decisions, and it’s a disappointing shift for our state,” Petersen said.

Kirk’s legacy has sparked legislative efforts in more than 20 states, with bills proposing highways, days of remembrance, and measures promoting free speech on college campuses or education on Judeo-Christian values in U.S. history. Arizona and Florida were among the first states to advance Kirk-inspired legislation, though Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has yet to act on a bill naming roads in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in Kirk’s and former President Donald Trump’s honor.

The veto marks a significant setback for Arizona Republicans aiming to memorialize Kirk and reflects ongoing partisan divides over public recognition of prominent political figures.