Fire at Pennsylvania governor's home raises questions on political violence

Natalie Jones, Baltimore Sun on Apr 14, 2025

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The official government residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in Harrisburg faced a fiery attack that forced the governor and his family to flee their home early Sunday morning.

The fire, allegedly ignited by Pennsylvania resident Cody Balmer, who admitted to “harboring hatred” toward the Democratic governor and told police he would have beaten Shapiro with a hammer, charred a portion of the governor’s home, marking the latest in a series of political attacks across the country.

“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,” Shapiro said in an emotional speech on Sunday. “It is not OK, and it has to stop.”

While authorities have not yet identified a clear motive behind the blaze, political analysts believe polarization and hyper-partisanship can lead to similar kinds of attacks, said Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

“As people become ever more divided over political issues, they’re more open to the idea of a loss isn’t just an election cycle thing — it’s an existential threat to what they view as sort of their way of life,” he said.

Contrary to what some may think, it’s not simply an issue on the left or right side of the political spectrum — it’s been seen on both sides, Eberly said, citing the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the U.S. Capitol and more recent attacks on Tesla vehicles.

Other attacks have made headlines, as well. Last year, President Donald Trump faced two assassination attempts — one in Pennsylvania and one in Florida. Two years ago, a 42-year-old man broke into the San Francisco home of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and beat her husband, Paul Pelosi, with a hammer, fracturing his skull.

While research shows that Americans’ support for political violence is low, it remains unsettling for the public.

One thing to consider is why people feel so disenfranchised, so much so that they feel they can’t get things done through the political process, said Roger Hartley, dean of the College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore.

Trust in government is lowering, and some groups have tried to “delegitimize” government institutions previously respected, such as courts, Congress and the executive branch, Hartley said. But what happens when that trust is gone?

“If you feel you have no power and you want to change things, if you really can’t trust the courts, local government, state government — any of the branches of government — and you can’t trust elections, then what are you left with to try and be empowered?” he said.

When people become disillusioned with political processes providing any hope for change, that’s when democratic values are gone — and when things can become dangerous, Hartley said.

Elected officials on both sides have been quick to condemn the attack in Pennsylvania and offer support for the Shapiro family.

“Dawn and I have been in close contact with Josh and Lori Shapiro today,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore wrote in social media posts Sunday evening. “We are deeply relieved that their family is safe after the horrific act of violence at their home last night.”

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, said in a post on X that he and his wife were praying for the Shapiro family following “the despicable act of arson that forced them from their home.”

“We must all stand in solidarity against acts of violence and intimidation—there is no place for them in this nation,” he wrote in the post.

In remarks to reporters on Monday, President Donald Trump said that the person behind the attack was “probably just a whack job.”

The attack on Shapiro’s residence has also called into question security around other governors’ homes.

In Maryland, it’s unclear whether additional measures are being taken to secure the Government House, the official residence of Moore and his family, while the Democratic governor is in Asia on a trade mission. The governor’s office on Monday declined to comment on any actions to protect the historic Annapolis home, citing security concerns.

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