Origins of the Cigar Caucus

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It started a decade ago—not in hearing rooms or campaign offices, but on porches and patios where a handful of us gathered for two simple pleasures: good cigars and good conversation. Politics brought us together, but once the cigars were lit, labels faded. Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, veterans of campaigns and those who avoided them—we became just friends swapping stories over a slow-burning leaf.

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We talked about everything from tax policy to SEC football, foreign affairs to the best way to light a Churchill on a windy night. Occasionally we even solved the world’s problems, at least until someone had to leave to pick up grandkids.

Then COVID hit. The world shut down, and so did our circle—briefly. But the camaraderie was too strong to lose. We moved to Zoom, lighters flickering on camera, and the surprising thing was this: the group didn’t shrink. It grew.

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Today the Cigar Caucus stretches from New Hampshire to Florida. The geography changed, but the spirit didn’t. We still disagree, sometimes fiercely, but always with humor, respect, and the understanding that friendship outruns faction.

In a divided time, the Cigar Caucus is a quiet rebellion—proof that civil discourse isn’t gone. It’s just enjoying a good cigar.