From JD Vance's Dumbledore costume to bizarre stunts: The midterms' wildest moments

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson took an unusually literal approach to an attack ad, dressing as a cord of wood while campaigning in Portland on Halloween. The former logger was responding to a pro-Susan Collins advertisement questioning his qualifications for the Senate. Instead of ignoring the criticism, Jackson turned it into a costume and went trick-or-treating for votes.

Texas Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico stepped behind the griddle at an Indian restaurant in Irving on October 29. A viral video showed him preparing a masala dosa, a crispy Indian crepe filled with spiced potatoes, as onlookers cheered. The unconventional campaign stop was part of his outreach to Indian-American voters ahead of his contest against Republican Ken Paxton.

Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan encountered students dressed as everything from an axolotl to Sharkboy and Lavagirl during a Halloween campaign stop in Mankato. She even showed them a photograph of herself wearing a frog costume before judging the student costume contest. The lighthearted gathering also included discussions about healthcare, artificial intelligence and the approaching election.

Tennessee Republican gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn took an unexpected turn into hip-hop with an AI-generated campaign video depicting her and fellow Republicans performing to Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us. The October 13 clip, intended to promote early voting, featured other Tennessee political figures, including former WWE star Glenn Jacobs. It quickly drew online criticism and ridicule, adding another surreal moment to the election season.

Vice President JD Vance swapped his usual suit for a silver robe, pointed hat and long gray wig to become Albus Dumbledore for Halloween. His youngest son appeared as Dobby, while wife Usha and their other children joined the Harry Potter-themed family celebration. Vance shared the festive photographs and a playful video on October 31, just days before the midterms.