Vice President JD Vance said Justice Brett Kavanaugh would not have been confirmed to the Supreme Court without the support of Senator Lindsey Graham [1].
Vance made the remarks July 28, 2026 [2], during a memorial service for Graham held at the U.S. Capitol. The tribute highlights the influential role Graham played in shaping the current judicial landscape of the United States.
Speaking to mourners, Vance emphasized the importance of Graham's strategic efforts during the 2018 confirmation process. "Without Senator Graham’s help, Brett Kavanaugh would never have made it to the Supreme Court," Vance said [1]. He said that he will most remember Graham for the "quiet, behind-the-scenes work" that ensured the appointment succeeded [3].
While Vance focused on the judicial appointment as a defining legacy, he also acknowledged Graham's contributions to legislative policy. Vance said that Graham helped pass the Railway Safety Act of 2023 [1], describing it as a piece of legislation he will never forget [1].
The memorial service brought together a wide array of political figures to honor the late senator's career. Vance's comments underscore a transition in the Republican party, as the Vice President praised a former colleague with whom he once had a bitter Senate fight [1].
The event served as a reflection on the power dynamics of the Trump era in Washington, D.C. By centering the conversation on the 2018 confirmation, Vance identified the judicial shift as the most enduring impact of Graham's tenure in the Senate.
“"Without Senator Graham’s help, Brett Kavanaugh would never have made it to the Supreme Court."”
The Vice President's remarks highlight the critical role of individual legislative brokers in the confirmation of conservative judges. By crediting Graham with Kavanaugh's seat on the bench, Vance acknowledges that the current ideological majority of the Supreme Court relied on specific, high-stakes political maneuvers rather than inevitable consensus.
