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Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan opened her testimony before the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday with condolences following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Ky., who died Saturday of a ruptured aorta.
“I wish to express my condolences to him, his sister, his entire family, his many friends and colleagues here in the House, the Senate and elsewhere on behalf of the entire court,” Kagan said.
Kagan spent a lot of time congratulating Graham reflecting on Graham’s role in his 2010 confirmation, noting that he was one of five Senate Republicans who voted for his nomination after he was elected by then-President Barack Obama. Graham’s bipartisan support was prominent then and has become even more prominent as Supreme Court confirmation votes have increasingly split along party lines.
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan opened her testimony before the House Appropriations Committee by offering condolences following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Ky., who died Saturday of a ruptured aorta. (Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images; Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images)
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“Not many Republicans voted for the Democratic presidential nominee, and not many Democrats voted for the Republican presidential nominee,” Kagan said. “And one wouldn’t expect, such a cross party, if you’re going to vote, certainly for someone from a red or blue state. However, Senator Graham voted for me.”
“And I remember well, because he was a clear person. The conversation we had in his office before my hearing, where I don’t know, was a long conversation,” Kagan continued. “You got a chance to get to know me.”
He said that although he did not know Graham well, he will be remembered for his sense of humor.
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan opened her testimony before the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday by offering condolences following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Ky. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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“I think Al Franken said he was the funniest man in the Senate, but what I remember about that hearing was that somehow Senator Graham made me look funny, which is very difficult, by asking me what I’m doing for Christmas next year,” said Kagan, who is Jewish. “And I’m going to skip it, back and forth. But a lot of people said to me afterward, that exchange with Senator Graham was the moment my conviction was sealed.”
Kagan said he is always grateful for the way Graham handled his nomination.
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A woman leaves flowers outside the office of the late US Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) at the Russell Senate Office Building on July 13, 2026, in Washington. Graham died on the night of July 11, 2026, aged 71 after a “short and sudden illness”. (Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
“I want to express my gratitude to him, not only for his support, but also for approaching the confirmation process, for the kind of determination that he did and the kind of respect that he showed,” Kagan said.
Graham served 23 years in the Senate and eight years in the House of Representatives.
He died on Saturday at the age of 71.
His sister, Darline Graham, was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to complete his full term, which ends in January 2027.
