Pelosi's San Francisco Office Latest Target of Suspicious White-Powder Mailings

Pelosi's San Francisco Office Latest Target of Suspicious White-Powder Mailings

Pelosi's district office receives a suspicious letter consistent with a nationwide pattern

On October 21, 2026, the San Francisco district office of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker, received a suspicious letter containing white powder, matching mailings reported by other congressional offices. Spokesperson Nicholas Martin said everyone in the office was safe and that the office was following established security procedures.

Official response: all safe, multi-agency investigation underway

Pelosi's office confirmed that all staff were safe and that established security procedures were being followed. Martin conveyed Pelosi's gratitude to the U.S. Capitol Police, the San Francisco Police Department, and federal authorities for their thorough investigation, while emphasizing her continued focus on her San Francisco constituents and her concern for affected staff and lawmakers nationwide. The FBI, Capitol Police, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating the mailings.

Why it matters: a nationwide pre-election mailing wave

The incident is not isolated. In the weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, more than three dozen members of Congress across the political spectrum have received envelopes containing white powder. Many envelopes were marked "DSA" and warned of a "civil war" after the election; investigators say they were processed through a North Texas mail processing center and carried a postmark or stamp reading "Thinking of You." Federal authorities warned congressional staff to watch for plain white envelopes bearing those markings.

Who is affected: lawmakers of both parties and election officials

The targets span both parties and the political spectrum, including offices of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Alex Padilla of California, and Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut. Beyond Congress, election officials in Louisiana, Ohio, and Oklahoma also received suspicious packages; some were intercepted by postal screening facilities before delivery. Some reports put the total at over 100 letters moving through the postal system across at least 20 states, echoing a 2024 wave in which election officials in at least 16 states received suspicious mail. Preliminary testing at one congressional office indicated the powder was not hazardous.

What comes next: investigation continues, mail screening tightened

Federal agencies said they are working with law enforcement partners to respond to each incident and identify those responsible. Capitol Police specifically urged district offices to remain alert. With common features identified among recovered envelopes, authorities will continue intercepting and screening suspicious mail as the midterm elections approach.