What to Know About Erika Kirk’s Mom, Lori Frantzve

Erika Kirk has learned a lot from her mother, Lori Frantzve.

After welcoming her daughter in November 1988, Frantzve divorced Erika’s father, Kent Frantzve, and raised her as a single mother in Scottsdale, Ariz. She spent nearly two decades working for General Electric before founding multiple companies in the network security industry, according to her LinkedIn.

Following the September 2025 assassination of Erika’s husband, right-wing political commentator and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, the company announced that Erika would succeed him as CEO, CNN reported.

Though Frantzve doesn’t appear to have an active role in Erika’s controversial religious nonprofit, she does make occasional appearances on her daughter’s Instagram feed. In one April 2022 post celebrating her mother’s birthday month, Erika thanked her for “being a breathing example” for her.

“One of the greatest gifts of my life is to be your daughter, now and forever through every high, and every low,” she continued. “No matter where life takes us. As long as I’m living your baby I’ll be.”

Here’s everything to know about Erika Kirk’s mom, Lori Frantzve.

She raised Erika in Arizona

Frantzve raised her daughter in Scottsdale, Ariz. CNN reported that Erika grew up as a “super tomboy.” In 2012, she told Arizona Foothills, “I didn’t wear my first pair of heels until I was 14 years old, but I had a really mean lay-up.”

She played basketball in the NCAA while attending Regis University in Denver, before returning home to Arizona State University, where she majored in political science and international relations, per her website.

At a Young Women’s Leadership Summit in June 2025, Erika said that her mother had always taught her to take care of herself. But when she met her husband, her views changed.

“When you meet the right man, everything shifts, everything changes,” she said. “When I met Charlie, that was it. I could care less about the career. Motherhood is not a pause — it’s a launchpad.”

Frantzve encouraged her daughter to give back to her community

In 2012, Erika was crowned Miss Arizona USA. She told Arizona Foothills that she was drawn to pageantry as a way to serve others — a value Frantzve had instilled in her.

“My mom used to take us to soup kitchens and constantly said we needed to share our blessings with others,” she told the publication. “When I learned that by competing I could touch more people, further my causes, I knew it was a chance to make a greater impact.”

Frantzve was close with Charlie

Erika’s mother reportedly had a tight bond with her late son-in-law. In the 2022 Instagram post honoring her mother’s birthday, Erika opened up about all the things she loved about Frantzve, including her relationship with her husband.

“I love the way you love others,” she captioned the post. “I love your words of wisdom. I love how your big blue eyes feel like a heart hug when they look at someone. I love the way my husband loves you, it’s such a special bond.”

She raised Erika in a Catholic household

According to AZCentral.com, Erika was raised Catholic and graduated from a private Catholic high school in 2007. In August 2021, she posted an Instagram photo of her and her mother worshiping and thanked her for instilling the importance of faith.

“Since day one you’ve taught me the importance of worship and living a life sold out for Christ – embodied by the way you live your life, with a servant’s heart,” Erika captioned the image. “Precious moments like this, fully experienced, but almost never captured, I cherish forever. I love you Mama Lo.”

She’s a grandmother

Erika welcomed two children with her late husband: a daughter, born on Aug. 23, 2022, and a son, born in May 2024. Because of the public nature of their careers, the couple decided to keep their kids’ faces and names off social media.