Secretary Thomas Responds to Suspicious Letters Sent to Election Offices
Press Releases
10/17/2026
(Hartford, Connecticut) – The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating a series of suspicious letters mailed to election offices across the country, including the Connecticut Secretary of the State. Some of the letters contained a powdery substance, although preliminary testing of substances recovered in several states has found no hazardous materials.
The mailings prompted the evacuation of election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma on Tuesday after employees discovered envelopes containing suspicious white powder.
Upon learning of the suspicious mailings, and before knowing whether any Connecticut election office had been targeted, the Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State promptly contacted local election officials to remind them of established safe mail-handling procedures.
The FBI later notified the Office that it was the intended target of one of the mailings, which had been intercepted by federal authorities.
“I'm relieved that the substances tested so far have not been hazardous, but these incidents are still deplorable,” said Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas. “Election workers are our neighbors, friends, and community members. No one should have to fear for their safety simply because they're doing their jobs.”
“We've spent the past couple of years building close partnerships with local election officials and our federal partners. Those relationships allow us to share information and respond quickly when situations like this arise.”
“As a member of the National Association of Secretaries of State, I also joined my colleagues in condemning these incidents through the joint statement issued with the National Association of State Election Directors. Protecting the people who run our elections is a responsibility we all share.”
The Office remains in close contact with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies about the situation.
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Contact: Matthew Clyburn
Matthew.Clyburn@CT.gov
(959) 274-6725
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