MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Even before the killing of Charlie Kirk, Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania was struggling with the emotional toll of political violence.

In the middle of the night just five months ago, someone broke into his home and set it on fire. Shapiro, a likely 2028 Democratic presidential contender, was asleep with his wife and four children.

In the weeks since his family fled the blaze, Shapiro has been forced to confront the vexing questions now consuming elected officials in both parties as they face the impact of Kirk’s assassination on their own public lives.

“The emotional burden of being a father through this has been something that continues to be a challenge for me to this day,” Shapiro told The Associated Press.

Politicians in both parties and at virtually every lev

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