Local elected officials endorse Katie McGinty for U.S. Senate

Katie McGinty, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, received a significant round of local endorsements Tuesday.

Mayor Nutter, City Council President Darrell Clarke, along with a few other council members, and City Controller Alan Butkovitz pledged their support for McGinty, who is one of three Democrats running to unseat incumbent Republican Pat Toomey.

Nutter called McGinty "a serious person with incredible, inviting personality but focused on issues that actually matter to real people."

He also put in a plug for Hillary Clinton, who he supports.

"There's no doubt in my mind... Pennsylvania is going to have the opportunity to put two very smart focused and bright women in their respective federal offices come primary and general election next year. One in the senate and one in the White House," Nutter said.

If elected, McGinty would be the first woman from Pennsylvania to serve in the U.S. Senate. She is running against Joe Sestak and John Fetterman in the Democratic primary.

Clarke called McGinty a "breath of fresh air." He said he got to know her well during the Governor's race. (She lost to Wolf in the primary and became his chief of staff in January. She stepped down a few months later to run for Senate.)

"She walked in the room and she had this personality... There's no question from purely the qualification perspective that she is clearly qualified to be a United States Senator," Clarke said.

Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell

"I'm always impressed with people who come from everyday people, who come from rank and file of American life," Blackwell said, referencing McGinty's upbringing in the city's Northeast section. McGinty's father was a Philadelphia police officer and her mother was a waitress.

"No matter where you are or what the issue is that affects every day people, she speaks out, she's not afraid to," Blackwell said.

Blackwell, who is also a ward leader and member of the United Black Ward Leaders, said the city's black ward leaders decided Saturday to endorse McGinty for U.S. Senate and U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah for the Second Congressional district.

Nutter said he was focused on McGinty's race and hadn't yet thought about the second district. Fattah is being challenged by Dwight Evans, State Rep. Brian Sims and Dan Muroff.

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