WAYNE — State Sen. Mark Maynard (R-Wayne, 6) on Tuesday criticized Del. Anitra Hamilton’s (R-81) comments following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calling her comparison to a recent stabbing case in North Carolina “absurd” and “very sad.”
“I think comparing Charlie Kirk to the Carlos Brown Jr. situation is an absurd analogy,” Maynard told Mountaineer Journal. “And very sad that Delegate Hamilton would even think they are similar. Charlie Kirk believed in his heart he was doing the right thing and would never advocate for any type of violence.”
Hamilton, a Democrat from Monongalia County’s 81st District, posted on Facebook this week equating Kirk’s activism to the Charlotte light rail stabbing, a comparison that has drawn strong backlash from Republicans statewide.
Maynard said Kirk’s death highlighted broader political divisions and the need for civility in public discourse.
“I think this has opened a lot of eyes. Not only on the problems we face with the division in politics, but hopefully we’ll set a standard for peace and levelheaded thinking among us. I was traveling today, and every American flag I saw flying was at half-mast. That says a lot to me,” Maynard said.
Kirk, 31, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed last Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has called the shooting a political assassination. The gunman is in custody.
Hamilton, elected in 2024, has not responded to mounting calls from Republican officials — including Rep. Riley Moore, Sen. Chris Rose, Sen. Brian Helton, and Del. Elias Coop-Gonzalez — for her to apologize or resign.
