CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A free steak dinner for everyone who predicted the Senate races in Kansas and South Dakota would be in doubt three weeks from Election Day.

Or that the most-discussed campaign TV ad would show a smiling woman talking about castrating hogs.

These midterm congressional elections are serving up a tableful of surprises.

Republican Gov. John Kasich of Ohio isn’t in trouble after all. But three-term Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas is.

So, too, is Republican Gov. Sam Brownback in Kansas — one of the most Republican states.

President Barack Obama’s health law has faded as the all-important GOP issue in many places. Replacing it are new warnings about the threat of Ebola and Islamic terrorists.

Third-party candidates are injecting uncertainty into Maine’s gubernatorial race and South Dakota’s Senate race.