McGinty makes U.S. Senate run official

     Katie McGinty confirmed Tuesday morning that she will seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2016. (AP photo)

    Katie McGinty confirmed Tuesday morning that she will seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2016. (AP photo)

    Katie McGinty confirmed Tuesday morning that she will seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2016.

    McGinty’s announcement was expected. She stepped down from her role as Gov. Tom Wolf’s chief of staff last month after fellow Democrats lobbied her to run.

    “As Gov. Wolf’s chief of staff, I’ve seen that as he is working hard for our families, we need partners in Washington to help solve problems, not make them worse,” said McGinty in a web video released by her campaign.

    The former state Department of Environmental Protection secretary and ex-adviser to the Clinton administration also took a shot at incumbent Republican Sen. Pat Toomey.

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    “Sen. Pat Toomey has become part of that Washington mess that has left middle-class families out and behind,” said McGinty in the video.

    Before taking on Toomey in next year’s general election, McGinty will have to face former Congressman Joe Sestak in the Democratic primary. He was not mentioned in the video.

    Sestak had more than $2 million in his campaign vault as of June 30, and Toomey had more than $8 million on hand.

    McGinty’s first campaign finance report is due this fall.

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