Trick-or-dog-treat: Lawmakers hold annual Halloween puppy party

SPOTTED: A bi-pawtisan parade of paws strutting their stuff at Sen. Thom Tillis’s (R-N.C.) annual Halloween dog-themed bash.

The costumed canines of Congress gathered at the Hart Senate Office Building on Wednesday sporting their spookiest, silliest and sometimes-policy-themed four-legged attire. Some of the Halloween apparel eyed included a “Tax the Cats” shirt seemingly inspired by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-N.Y.) “Tax the Rich” Met Gala gown, an ode to infrastructure mutt sporting a “Bark Back Better” construction vest, and pumpkin and taco wardrobe flaunting Fidos.

Tillis first hosted his pooch-friendly Halloween soiree in 2017, in an effort for lawmakers and staffers on all ends of the political spectrum to “come together for a cause [everyone] can unite for: dogs in costumes,” his office told ITK in a statement.

Tillis’s pair of very good boys, Theo and Mitch — named after former President Theodore Roosevelt and the Senate minority leader — wagged their tails across the aisle with their get-ups, dressed as Sens. McConnell (R-Ky.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.). 

The bipartisan pup push comes as many Democrats have engaged in a dog fight over which top priorities would be included in President Biden’s massive spending plan. 

While Tillis, 61, had to nix the 2020 man and woman’s best friend celebration due to COVID-19, he said he was “excited” that every congressional dog would have its day with this year’s Halloween fete.