5 Biggest Recent 'October Surprises'

In this Oct. 9, 2016, file photo Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democrat presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speak during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

By    |   Monday, 07 November 2022 07:38 AM EST ET

From unearthed video recordings to reopened FBI investigations to a seemingly incriminating laptop hard drive, the past several election cycles have certainly seen their share of dramatic "October surprises."

An "October Surprise" is an election-related buzzword that refers to a news event – deliberately planned or entirely unexpected – that may influence the outcome of an election scheduled to take place in November.

Marisa Herman

Marisa Herman, a Newsmax senior reporter, focuses on major and investigative stories. A University of Florida graduate, she has more than a decade of experience as a reporter for newspapers, magazines, and websites.

© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


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From unearthed video recordings to reopened FBI investigations to a seemingly incriminating laptop hard drive, the past several election cycles have certainly seen their share of dramatic "October surprises."
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Monday, 07 November 2022 07:38 AM
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