The Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion in Harrisburg was left in ruins following a violent and calculated arson attack that authorities say was fueled by political hatred. Cody Balmer, 38, was arrested after allegedly setting multiple fires inside the residence, admitting to investigators that he intended to kill Governor Josh Shapiro with a hammer if he had found him inside. The early morning incident on Sunday has shocked the state and escalated concerns over politically motivated violence.
According to law enforcement and court documents, Balmer approached the property on foot after walking nearly an hour from his home. He reportedly scaled a wall surrounding the mansion, shattered a window using a hammer, and then tossed a Molotov cocktail inside. Once inside, he is accused of lighting two additional fires before being apprehended. Investigators recovered broken Heineken bottles filled with gasoline—used as makeshift incendiary devices—inside the governor’s dining room.
The aftermath of the attack revealed a scene of devastation. Smoke-blackened walls, charred furniture, shattered windows, and debris covered the floors of the historic Georgian-style mansion. Photographs captured the scale of destruction, including a once-elegant orange-brown sofa now cloaked in soot, a melted wooden table littered with ash and broken objects, and a globe-shaped liquor cabinet split apart by the heat. Metal frames from destroyed furnishings were strewn across the room, and west-facing windows had been completely blown out, allowing daylight to pour into the hollowed-out interior.
During interrogation, Balmer expressed an intense animosity toward Governor Shapiro, who has been considered a rising star within the Democratic Party and a potential contender for the 2028 presidential race. In court documents obtained by the Associated Press, Balmer admitted he would have beaten Shapiro with a hammer had he found him at home. He also told police he was motivated by his hatred of Shapiro and the current political leadership. Authorities confirmed that Balmer had posted inflammatory statements online directed at President Joe Biden and other Democrats in the weeks leading up to the attack.
Balmer has been charged with multiple felony offenses, including attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, burglary, and criminal trespassing. He remains in custody without bail. Police have released his mugshot, showing him with a disheveled beard and gaunt expression.
Governor Shapiro, who was home with his wife Lori at the time of the attack, said the family was awakened by loud banging on the door and credited emergency responders for their swift action. In a statement following the incident, Shapiro condemned the growing trend of political violence, stating that it doesn’t matter which side of the political aisle it stems from—it must end. He described the experience as harrowing and said he was thankful his family escaped without harm. Hours before the attack, Shapiro had shared a photo from the family’s Passover Seder inside the mansion, celebrating the holiday with a message of peace.
Constructed in 1968 and designed by architect George Ewing, the Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion has served as the official residence for eight governors. Now, it stands heavily damaged, scarred by an act of violence that has thrust it into the center of a national conversation on extremism and public safety. The investigation into Balmer’s background and motivations is ongoing, with authorities treating the case as one of domestic terrorism.
