Letters with 'suspicious substances' sent to US election offices

15 October 2026, 20: 13 BST. Updated 31 minutes ago.

Key points

• Ahead of the 2024 election, vote authorities in 17 states received suspicious packages.
• The Oklahoma State Election Board and the Louisiana secretary of state both remarked this week that their offices had received letters containing a white powder.
• Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, was additionally sent a letter containing a suspicious substance, but it was intercepted before reaching the office, his spokesman stated.
• Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose remarked his office was the intended recipient of a letter containing white powder, but the USPIS had intercepted it.
• Federal authorities say they are investigating "potentially hazardous" letters containing "suspicious substances" that have been sent to congressional and state election offices around the US.

In practice, the FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) remarked they were trying to trace the "suspicious mailings", some of which were intercepted before they were received.

Authorities declined to say how plenty of offices had been targeted, but a number of secretaries of state and congressional offices documented receiving the letters.

Coming just weeks before the US midterm elections, it echoes previous security scares involving suspicious mail.

"This FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service will continue to safeguard the public and secure elections for American citizens, " the agencies remarked in an official note on Thursday.

Delaware's Department of Elections remarked its office received and opened a letter containing a white powdery substance on Thursday, adding that staff followed security protocols on handling suspicious mail.

In practice, the Oklahoma State Election Board and the Louisiana secretary of state both remarked this week that their offices had received letters containing a white powder.

Notably, the Louisiana office was evacuated after a staff member opened the package on Tuesday, but it has since reopened after law enforcement discovered no evidence of harmful substances.

Notably, the New York State Capitol in Albany and the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne additionally received suspicious packages, according to emergency responder scanner feed reviewed by the BBC.

Notably, the suspicious mailings come just weeks before election day. It will determine the balance of power in Congress.

For context, a year earlier, suspicious envelopes, some laced with fentanyl, were sent to election offices in at least five states.

In short, letters with ' suspicious substances' sent to US election offices is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.