Authorities investigate letters with 'suspicious substances' sent to
congressional, election offices
[October 16, 2026]
By LISA MASCARO and JOEY CAPPELLETTI
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities are investigating letters with
“suspicious substances” that have been mailed to congressional and
election offices nationwide and are urging recipients to treat the
mailings as “potentially hazardous.”
The investigation by the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S.
Capitol Police was first disclosed in a message from the Senate Sergeant
at Arms obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. The notice, sent to
Senate offices, said that law enforcement officials were working to
intercept any additional letters, but “it is possible that some letters
may reach their destinations.”
In Congress, the threat appeared limited to the Senate, though the House
was monitoring the situation, according to a person familiar with the
matter who was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly.
The office of Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, a Delaware Democrat, said in a
statement that it was sent a letter with a “suspicious substance” that
was intercepted by Capitol Police. Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of
California said the Postal Service intercepted a suspicious package
before it reached his office. And Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
said postal inspectors intercepted a suspicious piece of mail addressed
to her New York City office.
An FBI statement said the bureau and the Postal Inspection Service were
"investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses
nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related
election offices.”
"Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working
closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident,"
the statement read. "We are also working with our partners to identify
the individual or individuals responsible for the letters."
Mailed packages containing a powdery substance led to the evacuation
this week of election offices in at least two states, Louisiana and
Oklahoma. The Ohio secretary of state said the Postal Service
intercepted a package containing a white powder intended for its office
and noted that similar mailings had been sent to election officials in
multiple states. Numerous states, from Idaho to Florida, said their
election offices either received letters or had them intercepted by the
Postal Service.
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The U.S. Capitol is seen Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP
Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
The Wisconsin Elections Commission said in a statement that it
received a letter and the white powder enclosed in it was not
hazardous, according to tests. "Let this be very clear: this
incident will not shake us,” Wisconsin elections administrator
Meagan Wolfe said.
News of the letters comes just three weeks before Election Day and
is reminiscent of a similar threat in 2023, when election offices in
six states received mailings that contained a white powder. In some
cases, the incidents disrupted work around local elections.
Some of those letters contained threats and traces of the powerful
opioid fentanyl, leading some election offices to stock up on the
overdose reversal medication naloxone.
The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National
Association of State Election Directors issued a joint statement
condemning what they said were threats against election staff.
“Those who administer our elections should never fear for their
safety while carrying out their essential duties,” they said in
their statement.
Deputy Postal Inspector Brendan Donahue told reporters Thursday that
“any threat or attack on election officials is unacceptable” and
that “we are also working with our partners on identifying the
individual or individuals responsible for the letters.”
___
Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin; Sarah
Rankin in Richmond, Virginia; and Nicholas Riccardi in Denver
contributed to this report.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
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