Suspicious white powder sent to election offices in 3 states

Secretaries of state’s offices in Ohio, Louisiana and Oklahoma were sent packages this week with mysterious powders, just weeks before the offices are set to oversee the midterm elections.

Oklahoma and Louisiana reported receiving the envelopes, while Ohio said U.S. Postal Service investigators intercepted a package destined for it.

The national groups representing secretaries of state and state election directors expressed concern about the suspicious letters in a letter Wednesday.

“As we have each stated in the past, threats against election officials and workers have no place in our democracy. Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties,” the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors said in a joint statement.

“Election officials take these matters seriously and work closely with law enforcement and security partners to protect their personnel and facilities,” the statement added.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose on Wednesday echoed the sentiment that election officials should “never have to fear for their personal safety while performing their duties,” adding that his office was working with state and federal law enforcement following the mailing targeting it.

“Fortunately, delivery of the letter was preempted by investigators at the U.S. Postal Service, who are dealing with similar mailings sent to election officials in multiple states,” LaRose said, while thanking the Postal Service.

Ohio is one of a few states facing tight elections in just a few weeks.

The election bodies of Oklahoma and Louisiana, facing fewer contested elections, were threatened Tuesday, when each state announced it had received packages with suspicious powders.

“We want to assure Oklahoma voters that today’s incident does not impact our ability to conduct elections. Election officials remain committed to ensuring safe and secure elections,” Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said in a statement.

Louisiana Secretary of State spokesperson Trey Williams said in an email Wednesday that an employee in the office’s Election Division opened a package containing a white powder and was taken uninjured to the emergency room “as a precaution.” Williams added that law enforcement did not find evidence of “harmful substances.”

“Tuesday’s event did not impact any election operations in preparation for the upcoming election,” Williams said.

Louisiana State Police said in a statement that it responded to reports of a white powdery substance found in a package at the secretary of state’s office.

“LSP is working with the FBI to identify the substance, which was successfully recovered and submitted for testing at the FBI’s crime lab. No employees have reported injuries or adverse health effects related to the incident,” state police spokesperson Jacob Pucheu said in an emailed statement.

NBC affiliate KTAL of Shreveport reported Tuesday that the Baton Rouge building was evacuated.

The FBI declined in an email to confirm specific instances or locations. The agency said in a statement that it and the Postal Service were “investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices.”

“Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident. We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters,” the FBI’s national press office said.

It is not the first time that states’ election officials have faced threats near an election. In 2024, at least 20 states were targeted with letters containing suspicious powders. In one instance in Utah, a mailing with a suspicious powder was intercepted, with a letter signed by a so-called United States Traitor Elimination Army.

The mailings prompted several agencies, including the Justice Department, to release guidance about protecting personnel against hazardous materials.