More than three dozen US Congress offices targeted with white powder envelopes weeks before midterms

FBI and Postal Inspection Service investigate suspicious mailings sent to lawmakers and election offices across multiple states

By LineZotpaper

Published19 October 2026

Updated19 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources2 outlets

More than three dozen members of US Congress have had their offices targeted with envelopes containing white powder, less than three weeks before the November 3 midterms, as federal agents work to identify who is behind the widespread campaign, according to law enforcement sources and statements from affected lawmakers.

The Virginia Democrat Suhas Subramanyam said his Leesburg district office was evacuated on Monday after an envelope containing a suspicious substance arrived. The office was cleared quickly, and preliminary tests showed the powder was not hazardous. Subramanyam said acts of political intimidation have no place in the country.

Law enforcement sources told ABC News that more than 100 letters thought to contain white powder are circulating in the US mail system. The FBI, Capitol Police, and US Postal Inspection Service are investigating, according to a notice sent to Senate staff on Thursday.

Election offices in at least 15 states had reported receiving or being targeted by suspicious mail by Thursday evening, the Tampa Free Press reported, citing federal authorities. No suspect has been named, and federal authorities have not released a confirmed figure.

The FBI said in a statement that it and the Postal Inspection Service are investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to addresses nationwide, including secretary of state offices, election offices, and congressional offices. Some letters contained an unknown substance. The FBI said it is working with partners to identify those responsible.

Senators across the political spectrum have been targeted. Letters addressed to Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and California Senator Alex Padilla were intercepted. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy said his team was alerted to a letter. Republicans in South Dakota, Texas, and Nebraska were also targeted, with Mike Rounds saying his Sioux Falls office was evacuated, and Pete Ricketts and Ted Cruz reporting suspicious letters.

In the House, at least 10 people were exposed after white powder was sent to the offices of New York Democrats Hakeem Jeffries, Ritchie Torres, and Tom Suozzi. California Democrat Jimmy Panetta said a staffer opened an envelope at his Santa Cruz office, cleared the room, and called 911, saying such attempts will not deter them from doing their job. In Massachusetts, five staffers left Seth Moulton's Salem office while police investigated; testing found no substances of concern.

Investigators have described common features connecting the letters. The FBI stated that recovered envelopes were processed through a north Texas mail processing center and carry a postmark or stamp reading "Thinking of You". Senate staff and House offices were warned to watch for plain white envelopes with these markings. The vast majority were intercepted before delivery.

In 2024, election officials were targeted in 17 states before the presidential election. No suspect has been named in the current case.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The mailings target elected officials and election offices just weeks before the midterm elections, raising concerns about political intimidation and election security.
With more than 100 letters potentially in circulation, law enforcement resources are stretched across multiple states and federal agencies.
The campaign mirrors previous threats to election workers in 2024, suggesting a pattern of harassment that may escalate as election day approaches.

Background

The suspicious mailings have targeted a bipartisan range of lawmakers and election offices across the US. The FBI and US Postal Inspection Service are leading the investigation, with a focus on a north Texas mail processing center and envelopes bearing a "Thinking of You" stamp. Similar threats occurred in 2024 when election officials in 17 states were targeted before the presidential election. The current campaign has not resulted in any named suspects.

Key Perspectives

Targeted officials: Lawmakers from both parties have condemned the mailings as attempts at intimidation, with several stating they will not be deterred from their duties. Offices have been evacuated and staff exposed to unknown substances, though preliminary tests have not found hazardous materials.

Federal investigators: The FBI and Postal Inspection Service are coordinating a nationwide response, warning offices to watch for specific envelope markings and working to identify those responsible. The FBI has declined to confirm specific instances but has acknowledged the investigation.

Election officials: At least 15 states have reported suspicious mail directed at election offices, adding to concerns about security and worker safety ahead of the midterms. The full scope of the threat remains unclear.

What to Watch

Whether federal authorities identify a suspect or group behind the mailings before election day.
Any additional reports of suspicious letters reaching offices or causing exposures.
How Congress and election offices adjust security protocols in response to the ongoing threat.

Sources

Virginia Democrat becomes latest lawmaker to receive suspicious white powder · The Hill News
Over three dozen Congress members’ offices targeted with white powder envelopes · World news | The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

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SupportedMore than three dozen Congress offices targeted with white powder envelopesWorld news | The Guardian: “More than three dozen members of US Congress have had their offices targeted with envelopes containing white powder”
SupportedFBI and Postal Inspection Service investigate suspicious mailings to lawmakers and election offices across multiple statesWorld news | The Guardian: “The FBI and US Postal Inspection Service are investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including secretary of state offices and their related election offices, and congressional offices”
SupportedLaw enforcement sources told ABC News that more than 100 letters thought to contain white powder are circulatingWorld news | The Guardian: “Law enforcement sources told ABC News that more than 100 letters thought to contain white powder are circulating in the US mail system”
SupportedElection offices in at least 15 states reported being targeted by suspicious mail by Thursday eveningWorld news | The Guardian: “Election offices in at least 15 states had reported receiving or being targeted by suspicious mail by Thursday evening”
SupportedSuhas Subramanyam's Leesburg office evacuated on Monday, powder not hazardousWorld news | The Guardian: “The latest is the Virginia Democrat Suhas Subramanyam, whose Leesburg district office was evacuated on Monday after an envelope containing a suspicious substance arrived. ... Subramanyam's office said preliminary tests showed the powder was not hazardous.”
SupportedFBI, Capitol Police, and Postal Inspection Service investigating per notice to Senate staff on ThursdayWorld news | The Guardian: “The FBI, Capitol police and US Postal Inspection Service are investigating, according to a notice sent to Senate staff on Thursday.”
SupportedAt least 10 people exposed after white powder sent to offices of Jeffries, Torres, SuozziWorld news | The Guardian: “In the House, at least 10 people were exposed after white powder was sent to the offices of the New York Democrats Hakeem Jeffries, Richie Torres and Tom Suozzi”
SupportedFBI stated recovered envelopes processed through north Texas mail center, carry 'Thinking of You' markingWorld news | The Guardian: “The FBI has stated that the recovered envelopes were processed through a north Texas mail processing center and carry a postmark or stamp reading 'Thinking of You'.”
SupportedVast majority of envelopes intercepted before deliveryWorld news | The Guardian: “The vast majority of these envelopes were intercepted by the US Postal Inspection Service and screening facilities before being delivered.”
SupportedIn 2024, election officials targeted in 17 states before the 2024 presidential electionWorld news | The Guardian: “In 2024, election officials were targeted in 17 states before the 2024 presidential election”
SupportedNo suspect has been named in current caseWorld news | The Guardian: “no suspect has been named in this case.”
SupportedSenators across political spectrum targeted including Schumer, Padilla, Murphy, Rounds, Ricketts, CruzWorld news | The Guardian: “Senators have been targeted across the political spectrum. Letters addressed to ... Chuck Schumer ... Alex Padilla ... Chris Murphy ... Mike Rounds ... Pete Ricketts and Ted Cruz also reporting a suspicious letter.”