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Sofia Nelson, trans attorney in Michigan, mourns JD Vance friendship

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Sofia Nelson, born in Wayland, Michigan, is a public defender in Detroit. But the Allegan County native was a first-year law student, out as trans, when they met a young JD Vance during orientation at Yale Law School. Nelson felt lucky to win acceptance to Yale, and always hoped to come home and work in the public interest. Nelson and Vance — also from a Midwestern, working class family — quickly became close friends. They stayed in touch after law school, visiting each other and respectfully and thoughtfully debating politics and policy via email. The Vance that Nelson knew was sympathetic and empathetic, interested in robust debate underpinned by mutual respect, appalled by many of then-candidate Donald Trump's statements and positions. Suffice it to say, Vance's politics have changed. A decade later, Vance would win a U.S. Senate seat, representing his home state of Ohio. Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee, tapp

'I do miss him:' Trans Michigan attorney mourns loss of JD Vance they knew at Yale Nancy Kaffer Detroit Free Press Updated July 30, 2024, 12:12 p.m. ET Sofia Nelson, born in Wayland, Michigan, is a public defender in Detroit. But the Allegan County native was a first-year law student, out as trans, when they met a young JD Vance during orientation at Yale Law School. Nelson felt lucky to win acceptance to Yale, and always hoped to come home and work in the public interest. Nelson and Vance — also from a Midwestern, working class family — quickly became close friends. They stayed in touch after

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