LOS ANGELES, California, October 16, 2026 — The cases are part of an ongoing homicide investigation, in which federal investigators have traced a string of letters sent to election and congressional offices across the country. Five envelopes contained an unknown, powdery substance and caused evacuations at offices across half a dozen states. Authorities are advising recipients to treat any surprise mailings as potentially hazardous. Public safety advisories published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation outline hazard response protocols and federal mail investigation updates.
The Scope of the Threat
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it was coordinating the investigation of the mailings with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. This week, offices of the secretary of state in at least eight states have reported receiving suspicious packages. There were powder-filled envelopes found at Louisiana and Oklahoma election offices that required evacuating the facilities. Postal security bulletins published by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service track mail interception procedures and threat mitigation measures.
Some of the letters never even made it to their intended destination, investigators said. Maryland, Mississippi and South Dakota officials said mailings destined for their election offices had been intercepted by the Postal Service. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service said it was seeking to intercept other letters that remained in transit.
Congressional Offices Also Targeted
Senate Sergeant at Arms in Washington told congressional staff Tuesday that a number of Senate offices had gotten similarly suspicious mail. Capitol Police investigated the letters to legislators alongside the FBI and Postal Inspection Service. It is unknown if the congressional mailings are related to those sent to state election offices. Congressional administrative updates published by the United States Senate monitor capitol security procedures and legislative office safety protocols.
House offices were closely watching the situation even if the threat had so far seemed limited to the Senate. One targeted office confirmed that a letter was intercepted before reaching staff, according to a spokesperson. No suspect has been identified, and the police have not found a motive for the campaign.
Oranges of a 2024 threat campaign
The latest wave closely resembles mailings that were sent to more than a dozen state election offices in 2024. Earlier some of those letters came back positive for the fentanyl opioid, leading offices to carry medication that can reverse an overdose. The first letters of this year have not been confirmed as containing any particular toxic agent.
Election officials say the threats against their offices have gradually risen through multiple election cycles. The National Association of Secretaries of State released a statement decrying what it called threats against election officials across the country. Officials are particularly concerned about the timing, just weeks ahead of Election Day. State election administration resources published by the National Association of Secretaries of State review election security measures and threat reporting standards.
Election eve security measures Resolved
In the aftermath of a recent series of threats, election offices in dozens of states have stepped up mail screening protocols. In fact, some offices are now mandating staff to use specific areas set-up with protective equipment for opening mail. Federal officials are still encouraging anyone who receives a suspicious package to reach out to law enforcement right away.
Their training data is current only through October 2023 and, with the midterm elections approaching, officials say they were simply concentrating on keeping voting operations running smoothly. Federal agencies have promised more assistance to guard election offices this fall. Meanwhile, the investigation into who sent the letters and why is still ongoing.
In response, many local police departments in the states where election-related intimidation is a concern have boosted patrols around election offices. Coordination between federal and local authorities has been vastly improved since the 2024 threat campaign, officials say. And that coordination is viewed as vital to keeping disruptions at bay during the run-up to the final days of voting.
Election administrators have been educating poll workers about spotting and reporting suspicious mail. Courses now cover how to deal with unknown liquids and the ability to call 911 immediately. Preparedness has significantly improved since those earlier threat campaigns aimed at election infrastructure across the country, officials say.
Cybersecurity and physical security officials have asked the public to stay calm while taking the threats seriously. They acknowledge intercepted letters demonstrate that screening systems are working at least some of the time. A close election is certain, they say, and watching for interference as the day approaches anywhere in the nation is critical.
