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

Just five months ago, someone broke into his home and set it on fire as Shapiro, his wife and children were asleep.

Since then, Shapiro, a likely 2028 Democratic presidential contender, was 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 challenge for me that's been the hardest to work through is that, as a father, the career I chose, that I find great purpose and meaning in, ended up putting my children's lives at risk," said Shapiro, a father of four. "Make no mistake, the emotional burden of being a father t

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