Powder Letters Hit Election, Senate Offices

Three Weeks Before the Midterms, Letters Filled With White Powder Reach Secretary of State Offices and Senate Offices Across the Country — Arizona's Adrian Fontes, Whose Office Was Evacuated, Says "We Will Not Be Scared Out of Doing Our Jobs," and Alex Padilla Calls It "a Stark Reminder of the Very Real Dangers Facing Those Who Serve the Public"

October 16, 2026

In the week of Oct. 12, 2026, with early voting under way, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Capitol Police began investigating what the FBI called "a series of suspicious mailings" sent to "various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices," some containing an unknown substance. Election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma received envelopes with white powder — Louisiana's tested negative for harmful substances and Oklahoma's election board was evacuated — and on Thursday, Oct. 15, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes's office at the State Capitol was evacuated after staff opened a letter filled with white powder. Ohio, Nebraska and Wisconsin reported mailings intercepted or isolated, and CNN counted election offices in at least eight states. Law-enforcement sources told ABC News that more than 100 such letters may be in the mail system. On Capitol Hill, the Senate Sergeant at Arms warned offices of "multiple letters containing suspicious substances." The offices of Sens. Alex Padilla, Chris Murphy, Chris Coons, Richard Blumenthal, Kirsten Gillibrand and Lisa Blunt Rochester confirmed letters, several intercepted before delivery. No injuries were reported, and investigators had not said who sent the letters or whether the election and congressional mailings were linked. The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors said those who administer elections "should never fear for their safety."