Wolf Aide McGinty Resigns, US Senate Bid Is Expected

HARRISBURG, P.A., (CBS) -- Governor Wolf's Chief of Staff, Katie McGinty, has resigned and is expected to jump into the race for the Democratic US Senate nomination in Pennsylvania.

A Wolf administration source confirms that Katie McGinty has resigned as chief of staff. Speculation has been running high for weeks that McGinty, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for governor last year, would challenge Joe Sestak for the US Senate nomination.

Franklin and Marshall College political analyst Terry Madonna says it's no secret that Democratic leaders wanted an alternative to Sestak, who narrowly lost to Republican Pat Toomey in 2010.

"He is in many ways not welcomed within the Democratic Party organizational structure. He's got a maverick style," Madonna explained.

Despite being viewed by some as a polarizing figure, Madonna believes McGinty's departure is not likely to affect Pennsylvania's budget stalemate, as both sides are dug in over ideological differences.