More than three dozen members of the US Congress have received threatening envelopes containing white powder in the lead-up to next month’s midterm elections, sparking a major federal investigation and raising fresh concerns about political intimidation in American democracy.
The latest recipient was Virginia Democrat Suhas Subramanyam, whose Leesburg district office was evacuated on Monday after a suspicious envelope arrived. Preliminary tests confirmed the substance was not hazardous, but the incident underscores a disturbing pattern ahead of the 3 November polls.
A Coordinated Campaign Across Party Lines
Federal law enforcement sources told ABC News that over 100 letters believed to contain white powder are currently circulating through the US mail system. The FBI, Capitol Police, and the US Postal Inspection Service are jointly investigating the matter, according to a notice sent to Senate staff on Thursday.
Election offices in at least 15 states have reported receiving or being targeted by suspicious mail by Thursday evening, according to the Tampa Free Press, which cited federal authorities. No suspect has been identified, and officials have not released a confirmed number of affected recipients.
Senators across the political spectrum and geographic divide have been targeted. Letters addressed to Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and California Senator Alex Padilla were intercepted by authorities. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy confirmed his team was alerted to a letter by the FBI and Capitol Police. On the Republican side, Senators Mike Rounds of South Dakota, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, and Ted Cruz of Texas also reported receiving suspicious correspondence.
House Democrats and Staff Also Targeted
In the House of Representatives, at least ten individuals were potentially exposed after white powder was sent to the offices of New York Democrats Hakeem Jeffries, Ritchie Torres, and Tom Suozzi. California Representative Jimmy Panetta said a staffer opened an envelope at his Santa Cruz office, immediately cleared the room, and called emergency services.
“These attempts to intimidate will not deter us from doing our job,” Panetta said in a statement. Massachusetts Representative Seth Moulton’s Salem office was evacuated as five staffers left the building while police investigated; testing later found no substances of concern.
Representative Suhas Subramanyam condemned the act, stating that “acts of political intimidation have no place in our country.” His office confirmed that preliminary screenings showed the powder was not hazardous.
Common Features Emerge in Investigation
Investigators have identified several consistent characteristics linking the suspicious letters sent to public officials and election centres. The FBI has stated that recovered envelopes were processed through a north Texas mail facility and bear the phrase “Thinking of You” as either a postmark or stamp.
Senate and House staff have been placed on alert to watch for plain white envelopes featuring these distinctive markings. The vast majority of these envelopes were intercepted by the US Postal Inspection Service and screening facilities before reaching their intended recipients.
Pattern Echoes Previous Election Cycles
This is not the first time election officials have faced such threats. In 2024, election workers in 17 states were targeted with suspicious mail before the presidential election, though no suspects were ever named in that case either.
The FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ongoing investigation. Authorities continue to warn the public and government personnel to remain vigilant as the election approaches.
Why it Matters
This coordinated campaign of intimidation strikes at the heart of democratic norms, weaponising fear against elected officials and election workers in the final weeks before a critical midterm vote. The cross-party targeting—from Senate leaders to district office staff—demonstrates how threats to democratic infrastructure transcend partisan lines, potentially chilling civic participation and undermining public confidence in the electoral process. As federal agencies race to trace the source, the incidents highlight the urgent need for stronger protections for those who serve in public office and the mail systems that connect them to their communities.
