Republican Candidate Avoids Blame on Shapiro for Arson Attack

Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity did not refute a right-wing radio host’s assertion that Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro was personally responsible for the arson attack on the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion. The incident occurred on April 13, 2023, when a fire broke out at the residence in Harrisburg, forcing Shapiro and his family to evacuate in the early hours.

During an appearance on “The Bob Cordaro Show,” Garrity participated in a discussion that veered towards the arson incident. Cordaro criticized Shapiro, stating, “There’s a level of incompetence he can’t even protect his own governor’s mansion.” He further emphasized that as the head of state police, the governor should have ensured the safety of his residence. Rather than contesting this viewpoint, Garrity responded with a brief, “Ah, yeah, that was bad.”

Following her comments, a spokesperson for Garrity clarified that her statement referred to the attack itself. Earlier, she had condemned violence, stating that she has “zero tolerance for any sort of violence” and that “an attack on the governor is an attack on us all.” In a prior interview, Garrity had labeled similar remarks made by U.S. Representative Dan Meuser as “unnecessary,” although Meuser had condemned the arson. He also suggested that Democrats foster a climate of “violent and hostile commentary” that contributes to such incidents.

The Garrity campaign did not respond to inquiries about whether she agrees with Cordaro’s assessment of Shapiro’s competence or what measures she would implement as governor to prevent similar occurrences.

Critics, including Jack Doyle, director of the Pennsylvania Accountability Hub, condemned Garrity’s lack of pushback against Cordaro’s rhetoric. Doyle stated that her failure to challenge the unfounded claims lent undue credibility to the suggestion that Shapiro bore direct responsibility for the fire. “When Stacy Garrity had the chance to stand up to the kind of toxic, dangerous rhetoric that is poisoning our politics, she instead chose to embrace it,” Doyle said. He cautioned that her willingness to politicize violence signals a troubling ability to lead.

The governor’s office opted not to comment on the exchange, while the Pennsylvania State Police, responsible for the protection of the governor and the mansion, did not respond to requests for information.

A security assessment is currently underway following the arson. Fundraising efforts are also in progress to cover the costs associated with the damage. Notably, Shapiro reported that former President Donald Trump reached out to him to inquire about his well-being following the incident.

The arson attack began when a suspect breached a high-security fence and ignited a fire, prompting an emergency evacuation of Shapiro, his family, and guests. The suspect, a 38-year-old unemployed mechanic, faces charges of arson and related crimes. During a 911 call made earlier that day, he expressed feelings of hatred toward Shapiro and made references to Palestinians. Family members of the suspect indicated he has struggled with mental illness and has been admitted to psychiatric care multiple times.

Garrity’s response to the incident highlights her electoral challenges as she seeks to navigate the Republican primary landscape in the Trump era while maintaining enough distance from the Make America Great Again movement to appeal to a broader electorate in the upcoming November 2026 general election.

A native of Bradford County, Garrity is a retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel with a distinguished military career, including deployments during the Gulf War and the Iraq War. She earned multiple awards for her service and became known as the “Angel of the Desert” for her leadership at Camp Bucca. Following her military tenure, Garrity transitioned to the private sector and made headlines in 2020 when she became Pennsylvania’s first Republican state treasurer in over a decade, defeating the Democratic incumbent. In the most recent election, she secured a record-setting 3.5 million votes during her reelection campaign, the highest ever for a statewide candidate in Pennsylvania.

Garrity officially launched her campaign for governor last month, positioning herself as a fiscally responsible alternative to Shapiro, whom she accuses of mismanagement and pursuing a “far-left” agenda.