Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, considered a rising Democratic star, had a terrifying wake-up call over the weekend when an alleged arsonist set fire to part of his official residence while he and his family were asleep inside. CNN reported that it was around 2 a.m. when a state police trooper “banged on our door,” Shapiro said, waking the family and quickly evacuating them to safety.
Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the damage to the historic Georgian-style mansion in Harrisburg was significant. The fire broke out in a different section of the home than where Shapiro and his family were staying. “Thank God no one was injured, and the fire was extinguished,” he shared later.
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Speaking outside the blackened and broken window of his residence, Shapiro made a passionate plea to end what he called a troubling trend. “This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society, and I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other… it is not OK, and it has to stop,” he told reporters.
The incident happened shortly after Shapiro, who is Jewish, held a Passover ceremony with family and friends. While officials haven’t confirmed a motive, Shapiro made it clear that he refuses to be intimidated. “I will not be deterred in observing my faith,” he said.
Police arrested 38-year-old Cody Balmer at the scene. Authorities say he got onto the property by climbing a fence and was carrying homemade incendiary devices. According to investigators, Balmer spent several minutes on the grounds, evading police, before eventually breaking in and starting the fire.
Charges being prepared against him include attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against an enumerated person — a term typically used for public officials or law enforcement.
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Top law enforcement officials in Pennsylvania say Balmer’s actions were deliberate and dangerous. “This wasn’t random,” said one officer. “He came equipped and with intent.”
Leaders on both sides of the aisle quickly condemned the attack. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was “deeply relieved that Governor Shapiro and his family are safe.” Vice President JD Vance called the incident “really disgusting violence” and urged that “whoever did it is brought swiftly to justice.”
President Donald Trump was asked about the fire while returning to Washington on Air Force One and said he had just been made aware of it.
Shapiro, 51, has been seen as a potential contender in the 2028 presidential race. He was once in the running to be Kamala Harris’s VP pick before she ultimately chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Shapiro, who identifies as a political centrist, became Pennsylvania’s governor in 2022 after defeating a far-right candidate backed by Trump.
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