McGinty Officially Joins Race For U.S. Senate In Pennsylvania

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- As expected, Governor Tom Wolf's former chief of staff, Katie McGinty, has officially joined the race for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania.

Katie McGinty ran unsuccessfully against Wolf for the Democratic nomination for governor last year, and then served as his first chief of staff. When she stepped down two weeks ago, speculation was rampant that she was planning a run for U.S. Senate. Now she's made it official, with the release of a three-plus minute web video  highlighting her middle-class background and values

"I remain at heart the daughter of a Philadelphia police officer and restaurant hostess, raised as the ninth of ten children," McGinty says in the video.

Democratic Party leaders have been searching for a candidate to challenge Joe Sestak, but in her video, McGinty makes no mention of Sestak, aiming straight for Republican incumbent Pat Toomey.

"Unfortunately, Senator Pat Toomey has become part of that Washington mess," McGinty says.

In an emailed statement, the Pennsylvania Republican Party slammed McGinty for her "lack of accomplishments including her role in creating the current budget crisis."