FBI investigates suspicious letters containing unknown powder sent to US election officials nationwide
Federal authorities are working to intercept mailings with unidentified substances sent to election offices across multiple states just weeks before the midterm elections.
What happened
The FBI and US Postal Inspection Service are investigating a series of suspicious letters containing unknown powder sent to state election officials and secretaries of state offices nationwide. Letters were received by election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma; the USPS intercepted packages destined for Ohio's secretary of state, Pennsylvania state department, and California Senator Alex Padilla. The substance in Cook County, Illinois was identified as baking powder, and Oklahoma state troopers determined their received substance was non-hazardous. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut also received a letter with suspicious substance. Federal authorities have urged recipients to treat the mail as potentially hazardous and are working to intercept additional pieces while identifying those responsible.
Context
Election officials are being targeted with threatening or suspicious mail during a critical election period. The National Association of Secretaries of State and National Association of State Election Directors expressed deep concern, noting that election administrators should not fear for their safety while performing their duties. Similar incidents occurred during the 2024 election cycle (at least 14 offices received white powder, some later identified as flour) and in 2023 (six states received white powder, some containing trace fentanyl). The pattern suggests election officials face an ongoing threat to their security and ability to function without intimidation.