WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) cohosted the 14th annual bipartisan Senate Barbecue luncheon this afternoon, a lunch that brings together senators from both parties to break bread together and spark bipartisan conversations.
Once per year—in place of the regularly scheduled Democratic and Republican caucus lunches—Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), who served in the Senate from 2005 to 2019, brought together Democrats and Republicans to enjoy barbecue from his home state. Today, the meal is the only lunch each year where senators of both parties are scheduled to eat together. Today’s event represents a continuation of this tradition with barbecue provided by pitmasters from South 40 Smokehouse in Marietta, Georgia, Bub-Ba-Q in Woodstock and Jasper, Georgia, the Salty Mule in Canton, Georgia, and Wegman’s Bayou Louisiana Kitchen in Roswell, Georgia.
“Senator Isakson was a dear friend and mentor of mine who helped instill the value of building relationships with colleagues from across the aisle,” said Senator Coons. “He had a simple goal in mind when he started this lunch—to encourage senators to break bread with someone they didn’t know and to have a conversation they hadn’t had before. I’m proud to partner with Senators Warnock, Graham, and Tillis this year to follow in Johnny’s footsteps and help my colleagues realize that if they agree on barbecue, they may agree on some of the issues facing our nation, too.”
“I am thrilled to join Senator Coons and my colleagues across the aisle in continuing this bipartisan tradition uplifting the legacy of the late Senator Johnny Isakson,” said Senator Warnock. “Johnny represented the best of Georgia, and I was honored to call him a friend. It is in his spirit of servitude that I will continue to break bread with my colleagues and renew our efforts to work together to better Georgia and our nation. And it never hurts doing so over some good old fashioned southern barbecue.”
“I’m excited to continue the Johnny Isakson tradition of having a bipartisan barbeque with Senators Coons, Warnock, and Tillis,” said Senator Graham. “Our country is very divided, and Congress is no different. However, being from the great state of South Carolina, I understand the magic of BBQ is unlimited. This is a start to helping heal a fractured Congress and honoring the legacy of our great colleague, Senator Isakson.”
“I’m proud to help continue Senator Isakson’s legacy of bipartisanship by co-hosting this year’s annual bipartisan lunch,” said Senator Tillis. “It’s important for the success of our nation for our elected leaders to be able to set aside their political differences and come together, even if it’s to share a good meal. I look forward to continuing this great tradition and fostering conversation and friendship with my fellow senators.”
More pictures of the event are available here.