Tom Waring, the Wire
Republicans are criticizing Katie McGinty, who last week announced she was running for the U.S. Senate after just six months as chief of staff to Gov. Tom Wolf.
“Today, Katie McGinty revealed exactly where her priorities lie — with her own ambition rather than what’s best for Pennsylvanians. In the midst of a budget crisis, McGinty abandoned her post to advance her career. She says she wants to go to Washington to ‘solve problems,’ but she couldn’t be bothered to fix Harrisburg’s. Pennsylvanians deserve better,” said Jeff Bechdel, America Rising PAC communications director.
McGinty ran for governor last year, but received just 7.66 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary, finishing last among four candidates.
“Pennsylvania Democrats are so dissatisfied with Congressman Joe Sestak’s candidacy that they are now placing their bets on someone who finished dead last in a four-way Democratic gubernatorial primary last year,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Andrea Bozek. “It’s bad enough that McGinty is one of the main proponents of the largest tax hike in Pennsylvania history, but her decision to pursue her own political ambitions instead of continuing to work to solve Pennsylvania’s budget problems is proof positive she values her own self interest above that of Pennsylvania’s interests.”
Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement regarding McGinty’s campaign:
“Establishment Democrats have finally found someone who’s willing to run against Joe Sestak. For months, Democrats have publicly raised concerns about Joe Sestak’s ability to win a statewide election. After multiple rejections by other possible candidates, Democrats’ best hope to take on Sestak is a candidate who came in last in the gubernatorial primary. With McGinty’s lack of accomplishments including her role in creating the current budget crisis, and their own pariah Joe Sestak, it looks like Democrats are stuck with a terrible choice between two lackluster candidates in next spring’s primary.”
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Sestak released a statement after McGinty’s entrance into the race, saying the establishment has “let us down.” The candidate said he wants to be held accountable to the people of Pennsylvania not party insiders. He did not mention McGinty, but criticized Pat Toomey for “saying one thing in Pennsylvania and voting a different way in Washington, D.C.”
“Washington is still broken. The American dream seems out of reach. Too much is at stake for another six years of an establishment politician. When I’m Pennsylvania’s next senator, the people can be sure that I will be their senator — I won’t owe anything to anyone except accountability to the people,” Sestak said.
