Texas County Drops Plan to Rename Highway After Charlie Kirk

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Officials in Bastrop County, Texas, have withdrawn a proposal to rename a portion of FM 969 as the "Charlie Kirk Corridor" after the right-wing activist and media personality who was killed last year. However, in North Texas, Hood County commissioners have formally dedicated a stretch of road as the "Charlie Kirk Memorial Parkway."

Why it matters

The decision to rename highways after political figures is often controversial, as it can be seen as an endorsement of their views and actions. The contrasting responses in Bastrop and Hood counties highlight the ongoing debate around how public spaces should be named and whether they should reflect specific ideological perspectives.

The details

Bastrop County commissioners were planning to vote on designating a portion of FM 969 as the "Charlie Kirk Corridor," but withdrew the proposal after facing a "fiery response" from local residents. FM 969 is a state road, so any name change would have required approval from state lawmakers. Meanwhile, in Hood County, commissioners have formally dedicated a stretch of North Texas road as the "Charlie Kirk Memorial Parkway" after voting to make the change last month.

• On February 26, 2026, Bastrop County officials withdrew the proposal to rename FM 969 after Charlie Kirk.
• On Saturday, Hood County commissioners formally dedicated a stretch of road as the "Charlie Kirk Memorial Parkway."

What’s next

Legislators in Arizona and Idaho are also trying to name parts of their own highways after Charlie Kirk, which could lead to further debate and controversy around the issue of naming public infrastructure after political figures.