Today, Governor Tom Wolf named Mary Isenhour Chief of Staff following the announcement that Katie McGinty had stepped down effective July 23.
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The official could not say whether McGinty will run for U.S. Senate.
An official from Wolf’s administration told The Associated Press that Wednesday will be Katie McGinty’s last day as the governor’s chief of staff. “Katie’s work has help lay the course for my administration, and I greatly appreciate her efforts to fix our schools, create jobs, and build a better Pennsylvania”.
The change at the top of the governor’s staff comes as the state is in the third week of a budget impasse, after Mr. Wolf vetoed a Republican-crafted spending plan that sidestepped his legislative priorities. She was chief of staff to the Democratic leader there.
McGinty is also being encouraged by national Democrats and Emily’s List, a Democratic group backing female candidates who support abortion rights.
“I am resigning in order to give due and appropriate consideration to potentially a U.S. Senate run, potentially other public service”, she said during a news conference with Mr. Wolf and Ms. Isenhour. She also attended a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee fundraiser in Martha’s Vineyard.
During the general election campaign, Mr. Wolf tried to install her as chairwoman of the state Democratic party, but the party incumbent, Jim Burn, refused to go without a fight. “We worked together to expand Medicaid, eliminate the unfair and costly SNAP asset test, save the children’s health insurance program in Pennsylvania, and implement key government reforms like a gift ban”, said Governor Tom Wolf.
Her anticipated entry into the race is unlikely to deter Mr. Sestak, who has long shrugged off the enmity of the party hierarchy he first defied in wresting the 2010 Democratic Senate nomination from Republican-turned-Democratic Sen.
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Administration officials wouldn’t provide more information about the governor’s planned Thursday announcement.
