According to a WIRED investigation, election offices in at least 32 states have received suspicious letters over the past week, beginning with an incident in Louisiana where an employee opened a letter and white powder fell out. The employee was not injured, and tests showed the substance was not harmful. The office reopened the next day, and a spokesperson said the event did not impact election operations.
Most of the letters were intercepted by the United States Postal Service before reaching their targets, but in Arizona, Delaware, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Louisiana the letters reached election offices, prompting evacuations. The FBI and USPS are investigating the series of mailings, though the FBI declined to say how many letters it had identified or whether it had leads. The Democratic Socialists of America, whose name and zip code appeared on at least one intercepted envelope, denied any involvement.
Election officials remain on high alert, but many have struck a defiant tone. A joint statement from the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors said threats against election workers have no place in democracy. Utah's lieutenant governor, whose office received an intercepted letter, said nothing would disrupt the midterm election. Similar letters were also sent to congressional offices, including those of both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.